The Public Relations Team Discusses the Promising Possibility of a Student Branch for the Athens Conservancy
CAITLYN BLAIR
Many students have heard about the Athens Conservancy, but student involvement is an area that the institution is greatly lacking in, and that is precisely what the public relations team is trying to change, as discussed at their meeting. “On its own, the Athens Conservancy is an organization whose members are long- time citizens of the county that are dedicated to preserving the land so that it cannot be built upon. Donors generously offer their time and money to the organization so that this cause is feasible,” said Hannah Wheeless, a co-leader of the organization. As of right now, the only opportunity that students have to become involved with this important cause is through the public relations team. However, seeing as the students of Ohio University make up a huge portion of Athens, it is essential that students contribute.
This meeting was held on Wednesday, February 25, and on the surface, seemed to be no different from any other meeting. The other members in attendance were Tyler Murphy and Jenna Holeman, both freshmen studying strategic communications in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University.
Overseeing the meeting were the two leaders, Logan Trautmann and Hannah Wheeless, both seniors studying the same major at Ohio University. Interestingly, at this particular meeting, there was a special guest, who is a teacher at the institution named Jack Jefferey. Jefferey advised the team on best way to go about forming a student branch for the Conservancy. “So our goal really is to orchestrate a group of students who utilize the Conservancy’s land as well as to help advocate,” Logan Trautman said. Jefferey’s words of wisdom were, “Try to target kids who are interested in [the environment]”. Jeffrey also said, “Get away from the politics. Figure out how it works rather than focusing on numbers.” Next week, the students will release a questionnaire whose main audience is intended to be underclassmen who could be held accountable for the future success of the club. The questionnaire will inquire students regarding their interest in nature in general. It will also attempt to generate the number of students who would most likely participate in such a group should it ever merge into existence. The student branch of the Athens Conservancy, should it become established, would definitely be the perfect club for nature-lovers and Athens-lovers alike, and this meeting was only a starting point.
Sources
Hannah Wheeless - 1(419)304-1012
Jack Jefferey - jeffereyj@ohio.edu 1 (740) 597-1793
Logan Trautman - lt160110@ohio.edu 1 (412) 915-4038
Ohio University Students Display Responsibility at Fests
CAITLYN BLAIR
Fest season at Ohio University is a phrase synonymous with subliminal thoughts as well as thoughts of dread. They are such major events that occur in the spring that one must ask how it affects the town as a whole, and the toll that the littering and destruction of property may be taking. Seeing as these events are student-led, and students comprise about a quarter of Athens, it’s natural to wonder what damage they may be creating.
According to Officer Brandon King, a policeman for the Ohio University Police Department, that damage may not be as hefty as one would imagine. “Most of the students who are throwing the parties tend to get them cleaned up fairly quickly in order to avoid citations”, he says. However, there probably is some destruction done to the grass and the soil, according to Officer King.
The dutiful policeman is not the only person who took notice of the state of the grass after the fests. Jenna Holeman, a freshman and member of EcoReps, a club for students whose main goal is to beautify Athens and utilize its wonderful land, did as well. The club was actually contemplating cleaning up after the fests. “We ultimately decided against it because they have really strong efforts when it’s closing down to clean up right away.” Regarding the affects of the fests in general, Jenna says, “People are tearing up grass. People are pouring beer on it. I can imagine soil-wise, it’s definitely compromising.”
Despite what fests may be doing to the soil, it would appear that students are handling themselves fairly responsibly and cleaning up after their messes. Hannah Wheeless, a senior at Ohio University and also an account executive for the public relations team of the Athens Conservancy, can testify to this. She and her friends own a house in Athens on High Street, which was the location of the parties last weekend. Hannah says, “My yard and my house was an absolute wreck, but as soon as the policemen started making their way towards us, we cleared the place out.”
Sources
Officer Brandon King
Email: kingb@ohio.edu
Jenna Holeman
Email: jh916113@ohio.edu
Phone: 360.261-1471
Hannah Wheeless
Email: hw649010@ohio.edu
Phone: 419.304-1012