Progress Report

FAIL - Graffiti artists are leaving their mark around town, but not everyone considers the work worthy of praise. When graffiti appears on public or private property, it's not art or valuable self-expression. It's vandalism. Ohio University maintains the Graffiti Wall as a visual public forum, one that extends beyond the university to the community. That is where graffiti belongs. But visual vandals are not the only ones causing a stir in Athens. The OU Police Department has reported an increase in incidences of broken windows and water fountains on campus. OUPD and the Residence Life staff have suggested some student residents pay for the damages. If people respect others' property, compensation will not be an issue. Perpetrators of the destruction need to realize their actions will have consequences.

PASS - New jobs could be popping up in Athens County. Two businesses, the Starr Machine Co. and the Harrison Runyon Lumber Mill, might create about 30 new jobs within the next year. Starr Machine Co. relocated to Nelsonville and began production last week. Harrison Runyon Lumber Mill plans to open a new mill in Nelsonville that could produce as many as 20 new jobs. The university also is doing its part to create jobs in the area with plans to build a new Innovation Center. The center, which fosters the development of new businesses, could generate more than 450 new jobs. The unemployment rate in Athens County is 4.8 percent. Though the rate is considerably less than some surrounding counties, new jobs always are welcome.

FAIL - The university is dragging its feet about student requests to make Bobcat Cash a source of payment at Uptown businesses. Student Senate this week admonished OU for not adequately responding to their recommendations. Last year, senate adopted a resolution encouraging the university to work with Uptown bookstores, restaurants and campus laundry facilities to extend Bobcat Cash use. The university only has begun to implement the initiative in campus laundry facilities. Extending Bobcat Cash has been on students' priority lists for a long time. OU administrators need to put it on theirs.

PASS - Up-to-date books are critical to effective education, but not all area students enjoy such a simple luxury. Local chapters of Ohio Reads and Americorps are working to change that. The groups are collecting used books that are in good condition and appropriate for elementary school students. The grass-roots effort will benefit students at Alexander, Amesville, Coolville and Trimble elementary schools.

EXTRA CREDIT - On-campus organizations are embracing OU's diversity with programs such as Big GAY Love Week, V-Day's Vagina Monologues readings, Black History Month events and yesterday's International Music and Dance performance. For all the talk about the university's lack of diversity, student groups deserve credit for heightening cultural and social awareness. Feminist Majority, the International Student Union, Swarm of Dykes, Open Doors, the Black Student Cultural Programming Board and other groups ensure all aspects of diversity — including gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and race - remain on the public discussion table.