‘Odd little histories’: Preservation org connects students to Athens campus

The Society of Athens Preservation (SOAP) is a student organization dedicated to preserving and learning about the history of Ohio University and the surrounding Athens community. By exploring the rich culture of OHIO, the club hopes to keep traditions alive and shine a light on the more unknown histories.

SOAP works to highlight the history of the resident halls and buildings on campus. The club is open to anyone interested in protecting local history. Students with a background in history, journalism, activism, or environmental studies may be particularly interested.

See below for a Q&A with Max Baker, a third-year environmental studies major and geography minor, and Taylor Connelly, a junior majoring in journalism, minoring in history and pursuing a war and peace certificate.

Q: How long has your organization existed?

A: We have officially existed for a little over a year, but we have been building the organization for over a year and a half.

Q: How many members do you have?

A: Around eight total. We’re always looking to expand.

Q: What kind of events and activities do you plan?

A: We do the occasional sticker fundraiser sale, but we mostly stick to the newsletter, meetings and social media posts. We mostly stick to informing and spreading news about buildings.

Q: How has being a member personally benefited you or enhanced your OHIO experience?

A: I have learned so much more about the odd little histories of Ohio University. I feel like I know a little something about almost every building on campus. I feel so much more connected to the campus and to the school.

Q: What makes your organization special or unique?

A: SOAP is a historical organization that focuses more on the little things than the big concepts. We are incredibly localized and so our focus is purely on OHIO and the surrounding Athens County.

Find SOAP on Instagram and Facebook and sign up for their monthly newsletter.