Ohio Wesleyan students display their pride on the lawn in front of the campus (photo by Toby Boyce)
Why do you love Delaware, Ohio? Well I guess part of the question has to include Ohio Wesleyan University.
That goes for a couple of reasons, the most obvious being that I wouldn’t be living here had they not given me a job as Associate Director of Public Relations in September 2002.
But it goes well beyond that. Of course, I have a lot of friends that work or have worked at the University and still live in the area — but the thing is that doesn’t make me unique. I’d even go on a limb and say that EVERY Delaware resident knows someone that has either worked at or attended Ohio Wesleyan University. They are that engrained into the community.
While the University works to integrate itself within the community it is also very much aware of its unique position as one of the largest employers in the downtown area.
We saw this when they took on a leadership role in The Strand Theatre and we continue to see it as they play an integral part in the transition of the location back to a local artist arena.
On top of what it adds to Downtown Delaware, there are also the great events that occur on campus. Sure, not all of them are exciting to everyone, but it is a neat thing when you have a chance to meet people like Bill Cosby, Counting Crows all the way down to the author of Twinkie Deconstructed.
So next time, somebody asks “Why do you live in Delaware?” you have another answer.
