Ohio University students are calling for academics to remain atop the university's list of priorities throughout the budget-cutting process, according to results of the Student Senate Budget Survey released Wednesday.

The 88-page report documented some 250-student responses, which Student Senate President Robert Leary described as touching on almost every aspect of OU. The survey was accessible mainly through Facebook and e-mails and hosted online from Jan. 19 to Jan. 29.

The Washington Post reported last Thursday (Feb. 4, 2010) that Internet search giant Google will be teaming up with the National Security Agency “in the name of cybersecurity.”

The arrangement will have the NSA helping Google analyze a security breach that the company says originated from China. The stated objective is to better defend Google and all of its users from future attack.

“Sources” say that the arrangement will allow the two organizations “to share critical information without violating Google’s policies or laws that protect the privacy of Americans’ online communications.” Also, “sources” say the deal “does not mean the NSA will be viewing users’ searches or e-mail accounts or that Google will be sharing proprietary data.”

Hocking College has asked a judge to let it ignore a request for discovery, filed by the plaintiff in a public records lawsuit.

Attorneys for the college have argued that the information sought by Ryan Stubenrauch “would not further the resolution of this case, but would impose undue burdens on (the college’s) staff and budget.”

Over one-third of fire emergency calls in the city of Athens respond to incidents at Ohio University. And with the Athens Fire Department in need of a new ladder truck, some city officials would like to see OU contribute to its purchase.

The city’s only ladder truck is over 20 years old, and the Fire Department has requested a new one several times.

I watched the film “Mischief” for the first time today. Somehow I missed it in the mid ’80s when it came out, and then never got around to watching it in the interim. This is despite the fact that I’ve known it was filmed in Nelsonville since I moved back to Athens shortly after its filming.

In some ways, it was a paint-by-numbers '80s teen flick, but “Mischief” redeems itself with an optimistic approach to the genre, winning cast, and setting in southeast Ohio.

I think the Convocation Center looks pretty in pink!

The Ohio Bobcats held their annual Pink Zone Game in honor of the breast cancer fight and the late Kay Yow (former North Carolina State women’s basketball coach) Saturday against Toledo. The first 500 fans in attendance received a pink T-shirt with the breast cancer pink ribbon and Ohio Women’s Basketball displayed prominently on the front.

Ohio University students are calling for academics to remain atop the university's list of priorities throughout the budget-cutting process, according to results of the Student Senate Budget Survey released Wednesday.

The 88-page report documented some 250-student responses, which Student Senate President Robert Leary described as touching on almost every aspect of OU. The survey was accessible mainly through Facebook and e-mails and hosted online from Jan. 19 to Jan. 29.

In recognition of Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week, local professionals, parents and community leaders on Wednesday discussed ways to address this serious social problem.

“Teen dating violence affects one in three teenagers and can result in serious educational, physical, psychological and societal difficulties,” the press release for the discussion said.

On an evening filled with candlelight, peace and signs of progress, members of the Hocking College community gathered Tuesday night to help one another heal from the wounds left by an unknown student almost two weeks ago on a bathroom wall.

That unknown student wrote slanderous graffiti early in the morning on Friday, Jan. 22, that called for violence against black students at HC on a men's bathroom wall on the second floor of the Hocking Height's dormitory. While nobody in the room Tuesday night forgot that Feb. 2 was the day that the lives of black students across the Hocking College campus were threatened, talk Tuesday night centered around overcoming hatred and finding peace.

When Ohio University makes budget cuts, the city of Athens has to plan on its own resulting budget reductions. City Auditor Kathy Hecht told members of City Council Monday night what current budget proposals at OU could mean to the city.

She said that for every $1 million that OU cuts from its budget, the city of Athens loses roughly $16,500 in revenue for its general fund, which the city uses to pay police, fire and streets department expenses mainly.