Each semester, our Students Taking on Oil & Petrochemical (STOP) Fellows embark on various "quests" to hone their leadership development skills. One of this semester's assignments, Building Ideological Power: Narrative Quest, had students craft narrative pieces that help combat disinformation campaigns led by the petrochemical industry. Read the Fellow's work below!
Annabella and Janki created infographics debunking false solutions to issues such as plastic recycling and cracker plants. View the full infographics here!
A Letter to the Editor of the Post,
What if the water coming out of your tap could catch fire? Would you want to drink that? Scarily enough, this is a documented reality for people whose water source is contaminated by something called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Many people view fracking as a path to energy independence, but I see it as raising more concerns to public health, the environment, and the daily lives of students at Ohio University. Fracking negatively affects students at Ohio University in four main ways…
First, the strain on public resources is not something to be overlooked. The increased industrial activity caused from fracking, truck traffic and infrastructure stress will also increase potholes and traffic in Athens! The traffic is already bad enough at 5pm and during class changes… Imagine all of the construction vehicles, closed roads, flooding, and broken-down pavement disrupting our daily lives. A major issue in Athens is the housing crisis… Fracking will only increase the city-wide strain on housing, both for students and for locals. The rent instability will increase, as outside workers who are brought in to work will also be competing with students for accommodations.
Secondly, the environmental health risks are very high! Fracking is performed by injecting chemicals deep underground, close to groundwater sources. There have been many cases of those chemicals leaching into groundwater sources, furthermore increasing our reliance on well water in the Athens area. In addition, the air quality will significantly decrease as the emissions from the fracking sites will worsen air quality. All those who are suffering from asthma or other respiratory conditions will be more at risk.
Thirdly, this will allow the waste industry to creep closer and closer to Athens. Many students are ethically opposed to fossil fuel extraction, while their university might take another stance. Currently, Ohio University is invested in fossil fuels! The neutrality, and support, from administration contradicts sustainability views that Ohio University has. This will only further tension and frustration between students and administration, especially if endowments or the university continues to fund fossil fuel extraction.
Lastly, the contribution from climate change from fracking is terrifying. In practice, fracking releases methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. This means that the gas traps more heat and stays in the atmosphere for longer, which leads to an increase in our climate’s temperature. All students who are concerned about sustainability and climate change recognize this extraction method as a step backwards to a cleaner environment. This initiative will also create tension between the state’s support for fracking and student-led initiatives pushing for clean energy, carbon neutrality, and divestment.
All of this said, I encourage you to take an ethical stance on fracking and include an environmental column in the Post in order to continue the dire education needed surrounding this topic.
Kindly,
Catherine Galla
My art piece tells the story of collective empowerment for all and shows the importance of moving away from unsustainable practices. If we want to see change we all have to opt in and fight for things for present and future generations. Far too often we prioritize convenience and individualized advancement, whether it be grabbing single-use plastic instead of something reusable, shopping for items with a history of exploitation and pollution instead of researching a more ethical alternative, or choosing to be silent rather than speaking up. It can be easy to live in a way that is quick and takes little evaluation. However, this way of living harms people, animals, and the planet. There is power in conscientious and sustainable living. Our choices and voices can move mountains and empower communities that are so often overlooked.
April 4, 2025
President Ericke Cage
Office of the President
West Virginia State University
Dear President Cage,
In the documentary Eyes on the Prize III, the episode “Spoil the Vine” shows how communities were left behind after the big movements ended. It talks about the damage that happens when systems fail people over time—and that’s exactly what’s happening here in Institute, WV.
As a student at West Virginia State University, I’ve learned a lot about what’s around us. The chemical plant next to our campus has been here for years, and it still produces harmful materials. Many students don’t realize that we go to school right beside one of the most dangerous industrial sites in the country. The chemicals in the air, soil, and water aren’t just “part of the landscape.” They affect our health, our futures, and the safety of our campus.
Watching “Spoil the Vine” made me think: how many more years will pass before this is treated like a real issue? It’s time for students to speak up and ask questions. Why aren’t we being told more about what we’re exposed to? Why is this still considered normal? We deserve a clean and safe environment. Our university should be protecting us, not avoiding the topic. We need better transparency, more education on local chemical risks, and real steps toward change.
This is about our future, and we can’t keep ignoring what’s right in front of us.
Sincerely,
Tiambra Collins
West Virginia State University Student
