Local businesses show support

Ask around and you may get the sense that the community and OU aren't completely tied together.

But why is this? A lack of students concern for local businesses? Locals' lack of concern for the University? There are many answers to this question.

Driving down Main Street, you would no longer think that this was a question at all. Many businesses proudly displaying the ‘we support OU' signs in their buildings is the start of hope. Hope that another flash mob situation won't freak the community out. Hope that on community football day, they'll give back as well.

Last year there was a feeling that the University and the community were two different communities. Neither side was really making an effort to get to know the other.

Now, with the recent support from the downtown businesses, it would be a good idea for students to help out around town whenever they get the chance. That's not saying you have to go out of your way to help the community every day, but we do live here, so it pays to make it a better place to live.

Ottawa may only be home 8 months out of the year, but we don't stop caring about our hometowns because we only live there during Summer and Christmas break.

Students will gain valuable experience in areas that may be outside their discipline. from helping the community. We might even make new friends who we would never meet just staying on Campus.

The reputation of our school is impacted as well. When students are acting positively in the community, OU looks good. When OU looks good, the community will want to support us more.

Besides, soon enough we'll graduate and be involved in other communities. If we start now, we'll be better citizens later on. This makes being involved in Ottawa part of our education, and aren't we here to get educated?