“We start the fire:” Ohio University students continue the legacy of resilience and persistence

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story mentions depictions of racism and transphobia. 

“College Green has served as a forum for the voices of Ohio University’s students throughout its history,” reads a plaque dedicated to free speech on College Green. “Whether supporting civil rights, advocating for the abolishment of women’s curfews, or in protest, students have and will continue to play a vital role in shaping Ohio University.”

While universities are often lauded as places for expression and free speech, Ohio U students, throughout the school’s centuries-long history, have shown their dedication to social change. Two notable protests, the Racism at OU protest in March 2022 and the Artifacts protest in January, grabbed students' attention.

The Racism at OU protest followed a number of racist incidents taking place in Ohio U dorms in March 2022. The student-led protest marched from Peden Stadium to Cutler Hall to address Ohio U’s administration about the incidents.

Joi Foy, an Ohio U sophomore studying journalism, was one of the organizers of the protest. Foy is also the president of the Black Students Communication Caucus. She became involved because of her friendship with Resident Advisor Chris Brown, who was the RA during the incident in James Hall where a resident urinated on his door.

One of the most poignant takeaways for Foy during the protest was the unity she felt among the multicultural community. She notes that “we have the power to make our voices heard and we have the ability to put pressure on the university to make changes within the systemic things that aren’t okay than OU.”

“So, that was like my first experience of seeing the black community truly come together and be truly passionate about something and work together for like a common cause,” Foy remarked, reminiscing on the protest from her freshman year. “That was something that was really beautiful to me.”

From the steps of Cutler, protest organizers pleaded to Ohio U President Hugh Sherman to step up and address the growing crowd around him. Other speakers included then Student Senate Treasurer Trinity Robinson and members of the Ohio U football team, who all called on the university to take the racist incidents seriously. 

In the wake of the protest, the President’s Student Cabinet for Inclusive Excellence was created to give a student perspective on university plans, according to The New Political.

Foy’s only regret from the protest is that it did not turn into more. “I think within the Black community, we could’ve done better with using the protest as a launchpad for some other things, like some conversations and possibly events that could’ve happened surrounding it,” Foy said. 

Foy stresses the work isn’t over at Ohio U, that it's up to students to speak out and harness their power.

“But honestly and truly, we (the students) are the ones that make this university what it is. And I think that when it comes to us protesting and things like that, I think that it's like us taking our power back,” Foy said. “ I think sometimes the university forgets that we wouldn’t be running if these students were here.”

Another, more recent example of students organizing for change, but within the Athens community, was the Artifacts protest.

On Jan. 21, a protest organized by Ohio U students and Athens community members outside Artifacts Gallery on Court Street voiced outrage against the shop’s owner. Amy Mangano, the owner of the boutique, was accused of being a trans-exclusionary radical feminist or a TERF.

Ohio U junior Rylee Lee, who uses they/she pronouns, began their advocacy when they saw anti-trans literature in Mangano’s store and later organized the protest. 

“It just rubbed me the wrong way. I don't enjoy the thought of leaving my fellow women behind just because other people don't think they fit into this cookie-cutter of what a woman should be,” Lee said.

While credited as an organizer, Lee claimed she only set aside a date and place for the protest and credits other protest goers for bringing protest chants, acting as legal observers, writing with chalk on public sidewalks and passing out literature about transgender rights. 

“I think we (students) kind of start the fire, we see a problem, and we rally. And the (Athens) community members are like ‘Finally! More bodies to fight this issue with,’” Lee said. 

Later on, the protest moved to the Athens County Courthouse. While the protest was largely peaceful, there was an altercation between a female counterprotester and Ohio U Student Senate university life commissioner Clay Lewis. He decided to press charges for assault against the woman, because he doesn't believe that people should be “intimidated” or “bullied” for protesting.

“It's troubling seeing people who have such little other things to do that they decide to go out, do that. You know, they'll go in the store, try to intimidate protesters and then come out and assault people,” Lewis said of his alleged assault. “It's disappointing because it shows that they're not capable of helping express a more creative dialogue … and it angered me of course because she assaulted me.”

According to Lee, Lewis is known for attending every protest on campus, from large events from the Artifacts protest to smaller events, like when preachers or anti-abortion activists stand on College Green. 

“I have a reputation to be known as the speaker guy, because I tend to go out to these protests–especially the ones where they’re just out there for attention because it's fairly obvious,” Lewis said of his activist endeavors. “I’ll go out there and mute them out (with music). I make sure that people are laughing at them, laughing at their message, especially if it's a hateful message and I don’t say a word.”

Following the protest, Mangano, who uses the Twitter account @AtheistAthenian, used social media to share her thoughts on the protest. She offered support to the counter protester who allegedly assaulted Lewis, and she posted personal Instagram pictures of Lewis with a clown sticker over his face on Twitter. The tweet had a demeaning caption that questioned if the picture was taken from the men’s or women’s restroom. Finally, Mangano also posted a screenshot of an email accusing Lee of bullying and libel that was sent to her music fraternity.

Lewis and Lee aren’t deterred by Mangano’s reaction or impending court case. Lewis says the incident has “encouraged” him to continue to attend protests. He’s come to realize why some do not come to protests, join organizations or take a stand. Lee follows a similar tune.

“The price I have to pay is this woman's (Mangano) screaming and clawing her way to take down anybody with her. The price other people have to pay is death,” Lee said. “Trans women are dying, trans women are being killed. This is but a minor inconvenience in my life, which is much less than somebody literally dying. So absolutely, this is worth it and I’d do it again.”

While the students who inhabit Ohio U’s Athens campus shift, the spirit of resilience, compassion and change persists through the school’s 200-year legacy.