Finals Week: Fun at Alden Library

Happy Finals Week, Bobcats!

Among the stress that comes with remembering all the notes you took since January, the last week of school can be hectic for classes, moving in and out, and getting ready for summer. Being the study-center of OU, Alden Library is hosting a week’s worth of activities and freebies that can help students mellow out between the books. Check out their page of events and follow their Twitter page for more information.

Tonight from 7-9pm, Alden Library will be hosting a Twitter contest with questions every thirty minutes. The winner of the contest will be recognized on Twitter and receive a free coffee coupon!

Lost Flamingo Company Presents: Spring Awakening, The Musical

This weekend in Baker Center Theater, the student theater club Lost Flamingo Company is performing their annual spring musical. This year is Spring Awakening, a rock musical based on Frank Wedekind’s play. The show is about a group of 13-15 year old children in 1800s Germany who try to navigate through their conservative society in order to discover all that life is, emotionally, sexually, and mentally.

Spring Awakening is set to run for the rest of the weekend in Baker Center Theater with a matinee at 2pm today and tomorrow (Sunday, the 27th) and an evening show tonight at 7pm. Tickets are 5$ and can be purchased at the door or reserved at lfcspringawakening@gmail.com.

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to support your fellow bobcats and experience a show you’ll likely never forget.

Image sourced from Lost Flamingo Company Presents: Spring Awakening; photo taken by Kate Jackson, Edited by Jenna Kendle

 

 

Keep Calm and Study On

As the last week of classes comes to a close and Spring semester finals begin, a lot of resources on campus are hosting events for students to de-stress and be able to jump into studying with a calm mind. Starting the week off is the Bobcat Suicide Prevention Campaign‘s free fun event “Keep Calm and Study On”.

Today from 10-4pm, students can stop by 3rd floor of Baker Center for Insomnia Cookies, popcorn, DIY stress balls and a chance to speak with certified counselors from the Ohio University’s Counseling and Psychological Services.

Stay tuned for more posts about events on campus during Finals Week to help make the week easier, and good luck studying!

Throwback Thursday with Aaron Carter!

This Thursday night, starting at 4pm on South Beach, UPC is hosting they’re last event of the year with a special guest performance. The theme is Throwback Thursday, a nod to the popular social media hashtag, and will comprise of 90s style fun: airbrushed snapbacks, a roller rink and a concert by Aaron Carter, a 90s Pop singer and brother to Nick Carter, member of the Backstreet Boys.

The free-for-students event begins at 4pm, but the concert doesn’t begin until 6pm. Get there early to take advantage of most of the activities and a great spot for the concert.

Keep up with UPC on Twitter and #TBTwithUPC for details on a Instagram contest where the winner will be able to meet with Aaron Carter!

Image sourced from http://ohioupc.com/node

 

 

Nesting in the Greens: A Reminder!

Welcome to the home stretch, Bobcats!

This week is the last week of school before finals, and a lot of students are juggling wrapping up classes and figuring out how to efficiently move from the residential halls. The silver lining to moving out? You get to redesign a whole new space for the coming year! Don’t forget to check out Nesting in the Greens, a Pinterest board that is regularly updated with creative and fun ways to design and build your “nest” in college.

Get inspired, make something, and good luck on finals!

International Street Fair: The Importance of Making Cross-Cultural Experiences

This past week Ohio University celebrated International Week 2014, which every year concludes with the International Street Fair. The fair is an all day event with multiple booths hosted by students and community members from different countries that reside in Athens.

“You can meet people from all over the world in one booth after another, get to talk to them, listen to their music, ask questions, and eat food, which is pretty awesome,” says Karim El Damanhoury, an international graduate student originally from Cairo, Egypt.
  
The fair comprises of vendors with handmade items from their culture, fresh-made foods, Henna tattoos and face-painting. Among the fun, there is an educational aspect as well. Booths are dedicated to campus clubs that promote cross-cultural friendships between students, like the Association for Cultural Exchange (ACE).
  
ACE is a program that aims to create lasting relationships with in-coming international students and current students at Ohio University. Jane Palmer, advisor of ACE, finds the International Street Fair to be instrumental in bridging the gap between American and International students.

“[ACE] is kind of known as the group that isn’t a country, you can see how each booth is for a country here; our goal is to mix and mingle people from different cultures like a bridge”, Palmer says. “We try to get people to meet from everywhere; to know that [we’re] one big global family.”

International Week is a big part of spring at OU, and provides students the opportunity to learn about their fellow Bobcats and where they originate.

“International Week give[s] an opportunity to both the Athens community and the international study community to interact and learn from each other,” says Kombe Kapatamoyo Jr., an international graduate student from Zambia, Africa. “This is an opportunity for various organizations in Athens to showcase what they are about…it presents students with community service, leadership, and even participation opportunities.”

“I think students can benefit from [International Week] as they open up and don’t feel embarrassed about asking questions,” says Karim, “we are all ignorant in a way, so no shame in asking questions to educate ourselves.”

“International Week lets American students cross paths with others that we wouldn’t normally,” says Amanda Roberts, a Junior in Media Studies. “I love getting to try all the different foods from all over the world, and I love the flag display on College Green, it’s a really great way to represent all the countries that are connected to Ohio University.”

check out the pictures and videos taking by community members and media this weekend.

  

International Week: Craft Night, April 17th

Tonight is the last Craft Night of the year and it is dedicated to International inspired crafts. Marti & Stewie has collaborated with the International Student Union for a night of painting, decoupaging and cultural submersion. Stop by from 9-11:30, tonight in Baker West 82 to learn about a different culture and relax with arts and crafts.

As always, check out the Pinterest Board for inspiration on how to paint and design your crafts.

*UPDATE: A representative of the International Student Union and a leader for tonight’s craft night has stated that the crafts will include multiple themes from different cultures, including Henna, calligraphy, pot painting, and origami.

Student Senate: Vote Today!

Today is voting day for Ohio University Student Senate term of 2014-2015. For the first time in a while, there are three tickets running for positions in senate, when there are usually two. Each ticket has it’s own values and goals for the university and its students. Student Senate is a large influence on campus and throughout campus decisions. Therefore, as a voter, it is imperative to get informed before casting your vote. Below are links for all three tickets: Restart, One, and Action. Check out their platforms, ask questions of the campaign representatives on campus today, then vote tonight before 7pm!

Restart

ACTION

One

And here is the poll which is open until 7pm tonight. Happy Voting!

VOTE HERE

International Week 2014

Happy International Week, Bobcats!

This annual week is dedicated to the diverse members of our community and provides an opportunity for students to learn a little more about their international classmates and their cultures. Throughout the week, Athens will host multiple events celebrating cultures and countries around the world, spanning from panel discussions, international films hosted by the Athena, talent shows and a International Street Fair that ends the week on Saturday.

Make sure to check out Baker Center’s flag display as you ascend and descend the escalators and take a stroll through College Green to admire the flags that are bordering the main path.

Keep an eye out for updates about International Week through out the week, and check out this list of events going on around campus for all the culture you can participate in!

Athens Beautification Day 2014

Beautification Day 2014

This Sunday, April 13th, marks the 10th anniversary of Athens Beautification Day, a day sponsored by Student Senate and dedicated to the improvement of the Athens community through on sight community service projects.

“The event has traditionally been a day where the students give back to the community by cleaning up trash, removing graffiti, gardening, etc. This year… there are more community members than ever before who want to participate and work alongside college students,” says Rose Troyer, the student senate Off-Campus Life Commissioner and head organizer of Beautification Day.

Starting at 1:00pm, multiple teams will work at project sites throughout Athens, which include the elementary school, Court Street, parking lots and even the freeways around the county. Tools and supplies are provided for the teams, along with a designated team leader to head the project. After a couple hours of work, food and entertainment are provided for participants to celebrate the day.

“[Beautification Day] has huge benefits for the campus and community,” says Leanne Ketchum, the Patton College of Education Senator. “Athens takes a beating during the spring because of all the street fests, but after Beautification Day, you can hardly tell.”

“I think OU students should be involved each year because it’s our chance to give back to the community,” says Leslie Stine, a freshman and member of the Habitat For Humanity team. “This is our home, so it only makes sense that we should want to live in a community that is the best that it can be. Ohio University’s environment impacts each and every person that steps onto this campus and [the beauty] is a part of the attraction of our school.”

Beautification Day does not only affect Ohio University and its campus, but calls for the entire community of Athens county to help maintain the environment. When the day started ten years ago, “there were 150 people who participated,” says Troyer, “this year over 1,230 people have pre-registered for the event.”

“Not only is it so great to be able to help out Athens, but we get to come together with other members of the community to create lasting friendships and memories to take with us wherever we go.” says Stine.

“[Beautification Day] is a blast, and you just feel so good about seeing a refreshed Athens once the day ends,” says Ketchum, “I think it is one of the best ways to give back to the Athens community.”

For last minute participants, registration starts at 11:30am on College Green, all projects end at 4:00pm. Check out Athens Beautification Day on Facebook and its website for more details.

Here is also a quick list of people and organizations tweeting about the importance of the day!