Appalachiatype

__Brieynt Kelly__

The first person I interviewed was not from Athens, but has been here for four years, and is dating a, Athens local. She said the first things to come to her mind when she hears the word 'Appalachia' are poverty stricken, addicts, and mostly good people. She also said that people that are not from around here need to be more informed about where they now are. The second person I interviewed is from Athens and he said when he hears the word Appalachia the first things to come to mind are home, stereotypes, and free ride. He said living here has its advantages and that people need to learn that the stereotypes are not true. I think that we do need to learn more about where we are to help lower the stereotypical thoughts.

__Mike McKnight__

Person 1- Did not identify as Appalachia and did not know of anyone who does.
3 words- Mountains, hills, trees
Thought the people of Athens felt the students as a nuisance by a necessary evil because what the university provides for the community

Person 2- Did not identify as Appalachia and did not know of anyone who does.
3 words-mountains, rocks, shrubbery
Thinks that the people who lives in Athens are bothered by the students but those outside of the actual town do not mind

Person 3- Did not identify as Appalachia and did not know of anyone who does.
3 words-mountains, run down, poverty.
Thinks that the inhabitants of Athens see the students as bothersome.
My reaction of this is how all three people I surveyed had the consensual feeling that the people of Athens are annoyed with students. I really liked the way the first person I answered with the necessary evil, they told me that evil was a very strong word but the saying fit. Obviously there will be strain between any 2 communities and OU is no exception. The two communities will have clashing ideals and that is obvious because the traditions and habits. There must be some actions by the local government to appease the two parties.

__Ryan O'Grady__

From the interviews and conversations we had about the Appalachia I learned that a lot of people see the Appalachia region as a plain, open area. In my interview, I asked my friend what words came to mind. He said Athens was hilly, had appalachian mountains, and nothing around the city. By him saying those words, it clearly showed that there's not much in Appalachia, or few people know about it. We tend to stereotype people from the Appalachia area as farmers, or hicks, because we think that all they know is farming. These stereotypes aren't exactly bad, because there's nothing wrong with farmers. We can tell them apart from others, often by the way they dress or talk.

__Sam Simpson__

The people I interviewed basically gave the same responses. They said that the words "Appalachia" and "Athens" brought to mind words like poverty, unemployment, and run-down. One person I interviewed knew people who had grown up in Athens, and now attend school here at Ohio University. All of the students said that the relationship between the community of Athens and the university's students is a love-hate relationship. The students do a lot for the community, but most students only see the university and its parties. They are unaware of the poverty and struggle all around them.