28 Things You’ll Regret Not Doing At Ohio University

College life is really a “YOLO” experience in that it is important to experience new and exciting things. Being in college, new experiences are basically thrown your way everyday. Although, we at SOCIETY19 don’t encourage getting yourself in trouble to do these things. This is why we have crafted a list of safe and fun activities that you must do in Athens. Keep reading for 28 things you’ll regret not doing at Ohio University. Get out there and start the list!

This is a collaborative piece by: Leslie Milkie and Emma Schoonmaker

1. Scaring the sh*t out of yourself at the Ridges.

A once-abandoned insane asylum now sits at the top of a hill, looking eerily over our campus. Since Athens is one of the most haunted places in the world, you’d be missing out on a pretty eye-opening experience if you didn’t venture up there with your friends in the middle of the night.

2. Try out every pizza place.

Court Street is filled with a handful of places to grab a slice. From Courtside to Goodfellas, you can’t go wrong. Saying that you have been to every pizza place on Court Street is an accomplishment that almost all alumni can say that they completed.

3. Eat instant mac n cheese or ramen.

Eating these two items is something that almost every college student can say they have done. No matter if you attend Ohio University or not, your experience will not be cliche unless you find yourself laying in bed and watching Netflix with a cup of ramen in your hands.

4. Get to know your professors.

This is another thing on our list that can be accomplished if you are in Athens or not. Getting to know your professor can get you references for future jobs and even help you pass their class. There really is no negative outcome that comes from familiarizing yourself with your teacher.

5. Eat at Bagel Street Deli.

Know as one of the best places to eat breakfast in Athens, Bagel Street Deli has dozens of bagel sandwich combinations that cannot be found anywhere else. Although it may be hard to pick your order, you will not regret eating here as you leave with a satisfied mind and a full stomach.

6. See the Homecoming parade.

Many OU students seem to avoid the parade due to the massive amount of viewers. Don’t let that make this one of the things you’ll regret not doing at Ohio University. However, this Athens tradition is something that you should try your best to see. It isn’t everyday that Marching 110 walks down the street playing their instruments.

7. Study on all floors of Alden Library and finding your favorite.

First off, studying at the Library is a must if you want to survive college classes. With five floors, many people work to find their favorite floor where they can focus the best and be the most productive. Experiencing this is something that every OU student must do in order for a successful four years.

8. Throw a crazy party.

Although this cannot happen until your junior and senior year, college is one of the only times you can throw a huge party without annoying your neighbors. This doesn’t mean that you have to invite 200 people and provide all the alcohol, but it does mean that you will have to let loose for one night and enjoy the party.

9. Visit Mike Dog’s Shack.

Known for selling alcohol, “The Shack” is a place that is unavoidable for all OU students. Take a stop in when you are of legal age and get rung out by Mike himself. The thing that people really love about The Shack is the friendly and personable atmosphere that Mike creates.

10. Eat at every dining hall.

This may sound obvious, but lazy college students tend to eat at whichever dining hall is closest to them. Branch out and try all the dining hall options so that you don’t get sick of the food as quickly as you would. We at SOCIETY19 suggest Nelson’s all-day breakfast, Shively’s quesadillas, and Boyd’s pita station.

11. Go to Brick Break.

From 6-9 everyday, Red Brick runs deals on all their drinks. Any OU student can say that they have slurped down a five dollar mega-mug during this three-hour period.

12. Walk up Jeff Hill.

This deathly walk may seem anything but intriguing. But, you didn’t go to OU if you didn’t complain about how tired your legs are from taking the trek up Jeff Hill. It’s kind of an initiation into the Athens community.

13. Experience HallOUween.

Although the population nearly doubles during this Halloween weekend, this will be one of your most memorable moments at OU. From laughing at the insane costumes to trying to make your way down Court Street through the crowds of people, HallOUween is a tradition you mustn’t forget about. So grab your best costume and hit the streets!

14. Go to every Fest during Fest Season.

From Numbers Fest to Mill Fest, these events will be among the wildest parties you will ever experience. Be safe and don’t get arrested, but enjoy yourself and show your Bobcat pride.

15. Skipping class when it’s 70 degrees in February.

Cut yourself some slack. You’ve been working tirelessly all semester and your parents are still going to be proud of you if you miss ONE class. On the contrary, your friends will never forgive you if you don’t go lounge on your front porch with them.

16. Staying in Athens for the summer.

Sure, our quaint little town shrinks by 10 sizes when all of the students leave after finals. However, what you will discover by staying in a college town when school is not in session, is that Athens is so much more than just a college town.

17. Stealing an Athens brick.

Please do not break anything (including the law) in order to accomplish this. Chances are, there is a loose brick laying around in the foundation of this town, just waiting to be taken home, cleaned up and cherished for the rest of your life.

18. Hitting up Union Street Diner in the middle of the night.

After a long night out with your friends, don’t go home and destroy your kitchen. Those stale Doritos wont satisfy you. Go to USD, a 24-hour Athens institution, and have yourself some bacon and eggs. Or chicken fingers. Or mac ‘n’ cheese bites…

19. People watching.

We have one of the most unique college towns on the map. If you sit on a bench on Court Street for a couple of hours, you never know what you’re going to see: a guy with a pet squirrel on a leash, a gay couple getting married on the courthouse steps, and many more.

20. People talking.

Befriend some of the people that you gawk at on the street. Every person that I’ve ever spoken to who has been in this town for a while has an amazing story to tell. These people are so passionate and rich with experience that you’ll feel wiser by having one conversation with them.

21. Going to local social events, not just your sorority’s social events.

Local bands have the chance to play live music at Casa Nueva every week. Inspiring intellectuals read poetry aloud at Donkey Coffee. Musical comedies are performed at nearby theaters. There’s something going on every day, so go get cultured!

22. Hiking up Bong Hill.

No, smoking weed while you walk is not a requirement. What you really need to go there for is the view. You’ll never see Athens quite like this.

23. Walking/running/biking on the bike path.

Running parallel to the Hocking River, our bike path is one of the longest and most beautiful routes for exercising. Get a group of friends a few pairs of roller blades and take a break from the bars for a day!

24. Grabbing a bite from the food truck.

Athens isn’t exactly L.A. when it comes to food trucks, but we house some of the most delicious and out-of-the-box mobile eateries that you’ll ever see in your life. My favorites include a chocolate food truck and a baked potato food truck. Mmmmm.

25. Taking a “Hot Nut” at Tony’s.

Shots are supposed to be cold, right? Wrong. This one-of-a-kind bar is rarely stuffed with students, but with the eccentric, tattooed, biker gang type of drinkers. For their sophisticated crowd, Tony’s designed a hot coffee shot that you definitely can’t pass up.

26. Shuffling through every single bar on Court Street.

We all have our regular hangouts where we know the bartenders by name and finish out every Friday night. But it’s places like the Cats Eye, the Smiling Skull, and Tony’s where you’ll have an unexpectedly fun time with your friends in a place that has been right under your nose the entire time.

27. Staying up all night to watch the sun rise on HOUmecoming.

Ahh, the most glorious weekend of the entire year. You haven’t done it right unless you’ve stayed awake through the night in order to be up in the morning for Kegs ‘n’ Eggs and that gorgeous Athens sunrise.

28. Getting in your car with your friends and letting the back roads lead you home.

Remember how I told you to skip class? Here’s what to do after that. Grab all of your friends, get in the car and just drive. There are no wrong turns or wrong decisions, because all roads in Athens lead home.