My OU Experience: Through the Eyes of a Freshman

Jasmine Lambert

            Ohio University is the home of more than 4,000 incoming freshmen and about 20,000 total undergraduate students a year. It is very easy to become just another number or face in the crowd if you don’t get involved on campus. I have had an amazing first month in Athens because of my involvement, my focus on my academics, and my social environment.

Involvement:

            There are so many clubs and organizations on campus for all different groups of people. Organizations are an easy way for new students to get involved instantly and make friends. I personally chose to join groups that are more focused on my interests and have people like me in them. I joined Black Student Union and Ohio University Association of Black Journalists to get more involved. In both organizations, I have friends and enjoy being in the company of amazing people that are all trying to be proactive.

I also feel like my involvement in the LINKS program had a huge impact on my smooth transition to college life. I made my first new friends during the pre-matriculation program and I became close to upperclassmen that I can talk to about anything. It also provides free tutoring and meetings with advisors to make sure that I stay on task and don’t get overwhelmed with all the things that I have to do. At OU anyone can become involved with a club that interests them and I highly recommend joining a group because it made my transition much easier.

Academics:

            The academic aspect of college caught me a little off guard. In high school, I never really had to try. I could just pay attention in class and study a little the night before and do perfectly fine on the test but it is not the same here. The workload requires a lot of time and effort but I’m gradually learning how to manage my time to get everything done and go to bed at a reasonable time.

            Being on scholarship makes it crucial that I stay on top of my grades because I have to keep a certain GPA to continue to remain in compliance with my scholarship. Knowing that I have that on my shoulders is also helping me stay focused on the ultimate goal, which is to graduate and start a career after leaving Ohio University. I think that having set goals for myself and having a support system, like LINKS, is very helpful to staying focused in school.

Social Life:

            Being involved and focusing on academics is good but without a social life I don’t think I would enjoy college as much as I do. Learning how to balance activities, my studies, and a social life is complicated but easy at the same time. I always look forward to Friday because after my last class I take the day off from studies and really try to have fun with my friends on Friday night. Whether it be going to a party or just hanging out in someone’s dorm, I think that every college student needs a mental break from the week they just had.

            The good part of having friends that want to succeed is that you can have a social life while studying. Most of my time with my friends is spent at the library, and even though it is a little harder to focus we still manage to get things done. I think having a social life might be the most important aspect to succeeding in college because if you focus so much on your academics and don’t take any time to have fun, you won’t enjoy it.

            I absolutely love going to school at Ohio University. There are so many different cultures, organizations and programs that anyone can feel like Athens is home if they try to get involved. Academics are much harder than high school but with all the resources that are provided, it is almost impossible to not receive help. OU is known as a party school so the social life isn’t hard to find either. I think that by finding a healthy balance of all three is what made my transition to college successful. I can’t wait for all the new experiences that are in my future!

The King Gets His Queen

DuShuan Headd

Lebron James or as he likes to call himself “King James” just added another ring to his collection. Lebron and high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson tied the knot September 14^th at the posh Grand Del Mar Hotel in San Diego, California.

Though filled with celebrity guests such as NBA players and friends, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and his girlfriend Gabrielle Union, James went very un-Kardashian like and held a relatively private ceremony.

Not many details are known about the wedding, as phones are believed to have been confiscated to keep the wedding private and away from the media. What is rumored to have taken place is a three-day weekend celebration, including a barbeque Friday and a farewell brunch on Sunday.

On his instagram, Lebron captions off a picture of himself and Savannah saying “When u have someone that's always there for you no matter the ups and downs in life, it makes it all worth living for! So happy to call u Mrs. Savannah James.”

With both being on record expressing slight nervousness about the wedding, the ceremony is now over and the mother of Lebron’s two children may now officially join her king on top of the pedestal.

Ohio University vs. North Texas Football

 DuShuan Headd

Ohio University vs. North Texas

After opening the season against the Cardinals last weekend in Louisville, the Bobcats were in their own territory at the Peden Stadium looking for redemption against the Mean Green of North Texas.

After struggling to score against Louisville last week, the Bobcasts had no problem getting on the board, as they scored on their first possession. Quarterback Tyler Tettleton connected with wide receiver Chase Cochran on a 75-yard bomb and put the Bobcats up 6-0. The extra point was good, and the Bobcats lead the Mean Green, 7-0.

After a pair of miscues by both Ohio and North Texas, the Mean Green would end up tying the game 7-7 with 2:53 left in the first quarter on a three yard rushing touchdown.

Ohio’s offense didn’t take long to respond, as Tettleton would end up throwing for his second touchdown on the evening when he connected on a 10-yard gain with running back Ryan Boykin. With the extra point, the Bobcats took the lead again going up 14-7.

With the offense moving the ball up the field and scoring, the defense would also get into the action, as they would end up intercepting the ball not even a minute after scoring, and return it for a touchdown to go up 21-7.

Both Ohio and North Texas would end up missing opportunities to score points, as the kickers of each team would end up missing field goal attempts in the second quarter.

Being a freshman at my first college football game, the first half was electric and you could really feel the energy in the place. The same could not be said for the second half.

As the second half kicked off, many students left the game at halftime and did not return. With the building losing some of its electricity, it seemed as if the game followed in pursuit to start the third quarter.

Ohio and North Texas traded trips down the field without scoring for much of the third quarter until it was North Texas breaking the drought when they scored a touchdown with about five minutes and some change left to cut the deficit 14-21. This would end up being the lone score of the third quarter.

Less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, North Texas would end up scoring again, as they evened up the game at 21-21. Ohio University would respond with a field goal five minutes later and go up 24-21. 

North Texas had their opportunities to score but in the end unable to capitalize. With 1:27 left in the game, Matt Green would convert on another field goal attempt to put the Bobcats up 27-21.

With the game still in the balance, safety Xavier Hughes made the big play for Ohio by getting an interception and ending any hopes North Texas had at winning.

After getting trounced last week, Ohio gets back on track to even their record at 1-1 on the season. After the game coach Frank Solich was proud of his team’s effort adding, “They came off of last week down but did not stay down. They responded very well.” Let’s hope for a victory this weekend as the Bobcats take on Marshall University.

Next Game:

Saturday, September 14

Athens, OH

8:00 p.m.

A Generation Blinded By Feelings

To close off September 11th take a look as this controversial poem written by a guest writer Xp-Reian'z  aka The Word Walking.

Scorched Skin, a Missing Limb, Trampled On, Fell upon,

Jumping out, suicide, killing to live, homicide, but overall genocide,

Fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, wives, husbands of all colors,

They Watched as they all turned grey,

Emotions the color of blood oozing out into the chaos, connecting everyone together,

Aka “the test”, Pass or fail doesn’t matter, all for data and future agendas,

Feelings are used, bodies abused, perfect timing,

Just enough confusion to go to war and move into another country,

No, rephrase, take over another country, aka progress,

We don’t hear about things until it blows up in our faces, literally,

Then ears go deaf and eyes blurred, we follow the media’s every word, without fail,

Which is what we’re programmed to do, so that’s ok, that means you’re “normal”,

Troops left in after Osama died, gov’t says its to eliminate the Al Qaeda,

We say yeah makes sense do whatever it takes,

Meanwhile in the Middle East, oil trades are being made,

Political leaders are being killed, governing systems are being changed AND Monitored,

Right to protest are taken away, rebel leaders…well you know what happens to them,

Then all the normal people are left, that’s when progress can be made and all is “good”,

See the blood and obey, hear the news not the truth, do what we say,

Because you are our citizens, we are here to take care of you, you can trust us,

If you need me to rephrase that, you’re a lost case,

just find the nearest tv and enjoy the rest of your American life,

YES! People died, and yes, family members are still grieving,

But we, as intelligent beings,

Must realize that evil has no boundaries and uses all means,

With the innocence of a new born baby, the perfect actor,

9/11 birthed the Syria Agenda aka Syria’s(serious) Agenda,

All will be explained as more bloodshed opens your eyes,

And bombs become your daily alarm clock, for that is what “others” deal with,

Lets think about the Middle Eastern families,

And what they must go through,

Remember selfishness and ignorance is evil’s closest siblings,

And learn the enemy; know him well too, so that the next 9/11 wont happen…to you.   

Honor

144 Months

It has been 12 years since our great country was affected by the terrorist attacks that happened on September 11, 2001. In the last 144 months we have all been impacted by the act of terror from extra security checks at airports, to loss of our loved ones either in the attack or the revenge our country took upon themselves to find. In the last 626.129 weeks, children have had to grow up without their parents, siblings, and friends. In the last 105,189.753 hours spouses have had to send their significant others off to fight in a war that has been told to Americans countless times that it will end by the year …who cares. Anyone who even looks Middle Eastern has gone through 6,311,385.19 minutes of getting stared at while being anywhere. Middle Eastern people are treated like “human bombs” ready to kill all of us when really they just want a better life for their family like all Americans. After 378,683,112 seconds, I face waking up and not seeing my best friend anymore because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. 6,311,385.19 minutes that we could have been playing or texting. 105,189.753 hours we could have had in phone calls. 626.129 weeks we could have spent flying out to see each other. 144 months he could have spent playing football. 12 years wiped away from an 8 year olds life. I wish you had gone to school that day instead of in town with your dad, but you didn’t. I realize now that everything happens for a reason.

I love you and always will.

Dedicated to Taylor-Joseph Michael Grennings 

By: Jasmine Riley

Twelve Years Ago

To kick off the new school year, The Flow will be posting articles, pictures, and poems in remembrance of  9/11. A day that changed everything! All we ask is that you take a moment of silence and reflect on this horrific day.

Our continuous prayers go out to the loved ones of all the victims.

Chief Editor,

Aunjanna' Million