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1 week ago | 
athensindependent.com | Dani Kington
ATHENS, Ohio — United Academics of Ohio University argued in an April 14 filing that the university’s objections to the recent faculty union election, if upheld, would unfairly delay faculty unionization and drastically curtail labor organizing throughout the state. The State Employee Relations Board released unofficial election results in March that showed that more than 70% of participating OU faculty members voted to unionize, with UAOU as the employee representative.
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2 weeks ago | 
athensindependent.com | Dani Kington
ATHENS, Ohio — Last Thursday, April 3, Ohio University filed an objection with the State Employee Relations Board seeking to overturn the results of a recent faculty union election. Over 70% of participating faculty voted in favor of unionization in the election held earlier this year. In its objection, the university said that the union held members-only meetings during the campaign and that the election process was compromised by issues with faculty receiving mail-in ballots.
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2 weeks ago | 
athensindependent.com | Dani Kington |Keri Johnson |Keri worked
ATHENS, Ohio — After Ohio University abruptly cancelled its triennial Black Alumni Reunion amid state and policy changes, community organizations banded together through the leadership of the Racial Equity Coalition of Appalachia to make the event happen anyway.
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4 weeks ago | 
athensindependent.com | Dani Kington
ATHENS, Ohio — Nearly 800 Ohio University faculty will soon be part of a union, following a years-long organizing campaign and an election that saw more than 70% of participating faculty vote to unionize, according to unofficial results. “We worked really hard for this, and we actually had a very good sense that we had strong support,” faculty organizer Julie White told the Independent.
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1 month ago | 
ohiocapitaljournal.com | Dani Kington
However, students and the public have staged multiple demonstrations opposing the bill in recent weeks, including several in Athens. “I just can’t stop thinking about the students … that are in high school right now and are going to be a part of the new norm that is a university without Diversity Equity and Inclusion in the state of Ohio,” OU undergraduate student Mia Walsh told the Independent after a protest Wednesday, March 12.
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1 month ago | 
yahoo.com | Dani Kington
Athens County Independent photo from an Ohio University walkout on Feb. 27 to protest Ohio Senate Bill 1. This article was originally published by the Athens County Independent. ATHENS, Ohio — As an anti-diversity, equity and inclusion bill moves through the Ohio legislature, the Ohio University community is bracing for major changes to the institution, including the possible loss of its Women’s Center, Multicultural Center, and Pride Center.
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1 month ago | 
athensindependent.com | Dani Kington |Shiloh Antonuccio
ATHENS, Ohio — As an anti-diversity, equity and inclusion bill moves through the Ohio legislature, the community is bracing for major changes to the institution, including the possible loss of Ohio University’s Women’s Center, Multicultural Center and Pride Center. Senate Bill 1 passed in the Ohio Senate and is currently up for consideration by the House.
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1 month ago | 
athensindependent.com | Shiloh Antonuccio |Dani Kington
ATHENS, Ohio — Around 70 community members gathered in front of Cutler Hall on Ohio University’s College Green Wednesday afternoon to protest Ohio Senate Bill 1. The bill would transform the way Ohio’s 14 public universities and 23 community colleges operate by abolishing diversity, equity and inclusion programs and prohibiting full-time faculty from striking, among other strictures. The bill recently passed in the Ohio Senate and is currently awaiting review in the Ohio House.
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1 month ago | 
athensindependent.com | Keri Johnson |Dani Kington |Keri worked
ALBANY, Ohio — Loammi “Elijah” Yazdani-Isfehani preaches occasionally at a small church in McArthur, where an “Appeal to Heaven” flag hangs beside him. Two years ago, he spent 10 days in prison over his actions in the United States Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Since then, his political convictions haven’t faltered. He regularly broadcasts his views on YouTube, and from the pulpit. During a recent sermon, streamed on Facebook on Sunday, Feb.
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1 month ago | 
athensindependent.com | Keri Johnson |Dani Kington |Keri worked
ATHENS, Ohio — A former Athens County Auditor’s office employee has pleaded guilty to two felony charges related to theft from the county over a two-year period. On Feb. 20, former county employee Kristen Andrews pleaded guilty to two felony charges as part of a plea agreement with the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office. She was indicted on the two charges in September 2024: one third-degree felony of theft in office, and five third-degree felony counts of tampering with records.
