OUPD placed barricades around the former residence of OU President Roderick McDavis in anticipation of the OU Student Union "Bat Rally."
The Ohio University Police Department on Tuesday erected barricades around 29 Park Place, the designated home for OU's president, in anticipation for the OU Student Union-sponsored "Bat Rally" later today.
OUPD Lt. Tim Ryan said the barricades were placed around the residence after a meeting with rally organizers earlier that day.
"We met with the event organizers this morning, and they were very concerned with where they could and couldn't be," Ryan said.
Ryan said the solution to the issue was to put up borders to "clearly define where is acceptable and where is not acceptable" to be.
Officials roped off the lawn in order to protect it, he said, pointing to some of the ruined lawns on Mill, High and Palmer Streets after fest season.
He also said students were allowed on the sidewalk as long as they didn't block the flow of traffic.
"We opened up the driveway (for students)," Ryan said.
The rally was planned to protest the OU Foundation's lease of a new presidential property — 31 Coventry Lane — after OU President Roderick McDavis and his wife, Deborah, were forced to leave their Park Place residence after bats were spotted in the home.
OU officials have recently said they are unsure if bats are still in the residence, and won't know for sure if an infestation is currently present until a further assessment is complete.
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