Every year, Ohio University Student Senate divides and forms parties to run for positions in student government. The two parties that formed for this year’s election were SOUND and P.E.A.R. While these parties are in competition with each other, ultimately they are running for the same reasons: to give the student body a voice and make our university a better place for it’s inhabitants.

When a member of our staff, Natalie Mecuri, decided that she wanted to tryout for America’s Next Top Model, three other members of The Essay’s staff decided to document her journey to the top. The crew consisted of Michaela Meaney, Erin Raby and myself. We grabbed our notebooks and cameras and headed to Portsmouth, OH.

Annually, Ohio University holds a film competition, The 48 Hour Shootout. Production teams come together write, shoot, edit and showcase short films, which are judged for rank and prizes at the end of the weekend.
The Essay followed the team Easy Fix Productions on this 2-day-long journey through the trials and tribulations of creating a short film under limited time constraints. This is their story…

The thick woodlands just south of Wellston, Ohio, contain a danger concealed by the idyllic views and serene wildlife. In these tranquil hills of Appalachia lies the site of Broken Aro, which was once used as a strip mine and coal processing facility. It is the remains of this Broken Aro mining operation that pose one of the most serious threats to wildlife in Southern Ohio.

Athens, Ohio is overflowing with culture, history, and hidden treasures scattered throughout the city. Many of us walk by these places on a daily basis on the way to and from classes. I made it my mission to expose these hidden treasures so they can get the attention they deserve.

Portraiture series on those who have lived and lived.

We followed the Ohio University paintball team on and off the field as they compete to be number one in the nation.

Peter Wusher’s soft clear voice rings out above the assorted instruments of a musical therapy group for the mentally ill at the Gathering Place a mental health organization that has been serving the community of Athens Ohio for 33 years. The members of the group are lively today and everyone seems excited.

When we were told the theme of this first edition of the The Essay was “Live and Learn” and were asked to write an article about our crazy summer road trip, we weren’t sure where to begin. Then again, we weren’t exactly sure where to start when we set about planning a trip that would carry us across the nation, visiting 25 states and most of the great western American landmarks, cameras in hand.