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Rich-Joseph Facun photographed college life in Athens to examine the stresses and strains that come from being a progressive enclave in a conservative landscape
Party politics … students from Ohio university. Photograph: Rich-Joseph FacunWed 18 Mar 2026 08.00 CET
Student Rentals: Mill Street
1804 is an exploration of life in the Appalachian foothills of south-eastern Ohio. Rich-Joseph Facun turns his lens on the university – founded in 1804 in the town of Athens – to examine how heritage, socioeconomic forces and youth culture are shaped by its presence, and sometimes strained by it. The institution forms a progressive enclave within a largely conservative landscape. It also makes Athens a company town of sorts, as its dominant employer and cultural force. 1804 is published by Liars Corner. All words and pictures by Rich-Joseph Facun
Anne, 22, Early Childhood Education Major
Federal funding cuts enacted during the Trump administration have triggered staff layoffs, the cancellation of student visas and anxiety over a looming decline in high-school graduates – the lifeblood of future enrolment. Ohio University enrols more than 30,000 students, roughly 61% of whom identify as female. In 2025, after Ohio passed the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act banning diversity and inclusion initiatives (DEIs) at publicly funded universities, the university’s women’s centre closed
Tom, 68, Ohio University Retired English
Generations of Ohio University staff and faculty have shaped the local economy and community life, forging lasting intergenerational ties with the campus. Recent federal cuts – eliminating academic programmes and closing offices – threaten this legacy
Rental Property Fire
Athens’ population swells each semester as students move in, reshaping streets, shops and housing. The town’s rhythm follows the university calendar, but student demand has strained housing: ageing rentals and lax building codes create safety hazards, while rising rents push local families out of affordable homes
Cash, 20, Music Production Major: South Lancaster Street
Federal directives have prompted the university to close all offices related to diversity, including the multicultural centre, pride centre, women’s centre and the heritage college office of inclusion. Today, students of colour make up less than 20% of the student body, creating a complex dynamic in a town that depends economically on the university while maintaining cultural distance
Hoarder Remnants: North Lancaster Street
Many houses are now leased room-by-room to meet student demand. However, some owners are renovating properties back into single-family homes, their efforts welcomed by residents grappling with housing pressures
Holly, 21, Journalism Major, Courtney, 21, Political Science Major, Bridget, 22, Business Marketing Major, Sydni, 21, Occupational Therapy Major: Palmer Street
On weekends, students gather in Athens’ bars and house parties along streets that fill with crowds after dark. The nightlife economy – driven largely by the university’s student population – is a defining feature of the town’s identity
Doe: West Washington Street
Athens sits among the wooded hills of south-eastern Ohio, part of the Appalachian region long shaped by extractive industries and cycles of economic change. The landscape remains central to the identity and isolation of the region
Seaman’s: West Union Street
Beyond the campus, many residents work in service jobs tied to the university economy – restaurants, maintenance, housing and retail. These jobs fluctuate with the academic year and the ebb and flow of the student population
Intersection: East State Street
From housing markets to local politics, the university’s influence extends well beyond the campus boundaries, shaping decisions that affect students and residents throughout Athens County
Garage Amenities: Near East Side
Away from the busiest streets, Athens retains a slower rhythm that contrasts with the energy of the academic year
Riley, 21, Nursing Major and Megan, Undecided Major: Playground Drive
More than two centuries after its founding, Ohio University remains the defining institution of Athens – a prominent presence in a landscape where history, youth culture and regional identity continue to intersectExplore more on these topics
