Bat Rally protestors fight against president’s new home

“This is what Democracy looks like!” cried the hundreds students and faculty as they gathered in protest on the sidewalks of 29 Park Place Tuesday evening to voice their opinions about the University-funded $1.2 million residence that will now temporarily house President Roderick McDavis and his family.Due to a bat infestation that arose in February of this year, the President and the First Lady Deborah McDavis were driven out of their residence at 29 Park Place.The house, 31 Coventry Lane, is located 1.5 miles as-the-crow-flies southeast of the Convocation Center and is being referred to as “an investment for the University that will help the campus draw in more activity and support from alumni as well as donors.” The former president’s residence will go through a number renovations before the decision will be made on whether or not the house will serve another purpose for the University or if the McDavis’ will move back in.“Ohio University buying a $1.2 million home to fix ‘a bat problem’ is bat sh*t crazy,” reads the text in the Bat Rally Facebook event created by Ohio University Student Union, which over 800 students had joined leading up to the day’s rally.The Facebook event was created by the Student Union last Wednesday, March 25, and since then has drawn in large numbers of people posting and sharing their opinions on a multitude of topics including the bats, the new residence, the administration, the Board of Trustees and the president himself.During the rally, many individuals spoke on how their different causes were related to the new home and the money being spent towards it.“McDavis and his wife are the mask of a much deeper corruption,” says Jessica Ensley, a senior journalism major, a member of the F*ckrapeculture group and one of the rally’s many speakers. “They have done their job properly if you know the McDavis name but do not know theirs. That was their first as greatest victory.”“I think this is a real reflection of how this university and administration is run: with a lack of transparency,” Ensley said after the rally.Jessica Lindner also spoke as a representative for the RA Union movement. “A fair deal, and fair respect,” is what she called for when discussing the $3.80 per hour wages that residential assistants earn and how the $1.2 million should be better appropriated to causes like her own. Lindner didn’t count RA housing when calculating wages.Student Senate Vice President Caitlyn McDaniel wrote “$1.2 million: A Quantitative Poem”, which was was passed out during the rally to put in perspective the numerical value of $1.2million.“One Presidential McMansion = $1,200,000/ But what does that really mean?/ $1.2 mil = Tuition for 103 students/ $1.2 mil = 215 meal plans/ $1.2 mil = Housing for 376 students/ $1.2 mil = Minimum wage for 250 student workers/ $1.2 mil= 92 solar panels/ $1.2 mil = 24 multicultural directors/ $1.2 mil = Healthcare benefits for 732 grad student/ The cost to remove bats?... / Already covered.”Though cooperation with the police seemed to be very organized and peaceful, and no arrests or major incidents occurred, Student Union member Ryan Powers spoke directly about the police presence.“This looks very tactful to me,” said Powers, in regard to the law enforcement and the barricades around 29 Park Place.Following the line of scheduled speakers the group then marched down Morton Hill, climbed back up Jeff Hill and closed their rally in front of Cutler Hall in College Green.“Brick by brick, wall by wall, we will make the system fall,” was among the many chants they projected during the march.“We’re in front of Cutler Hall; this where President McDavis’ office is. We’re wondering: where is McDavis?” Powers said as the rally came to a close. “Where is McDavis when we’re asking the Board of Trustees to let us to vote on how we use our own money? Why is he not advocating for student interest?”The Student Union announced they will be returning to 29 Park Place at 5 p.m. next Tuesday, April 7 to update their fellow protesters on the progress of the petition they are asking people to sign regarding the Board of Trustees and the appropriation of the $1.2 million.As the rally came to its close, Powers asked all to join in a slow clap, and as it built to an applause the group cried out in unison, “solidarity.”