Ohio University students have the opportunity this Thursday to make their opinions known in the Student Senate elections and in the vote on President Roderick McDavis' ability to lead this university forward. The Post recommends voting in the following manner on the Student Senate election ballot's four questions regarding McDavis. The first three can be answered on a sliding scale from one to five, with one representing strongly disagree and five representing strongly agree. The last is a yes or no question.
1) The McDavis administration seeks out student opinion with regard to university policies and the decision-making process.
In light of the sports cuts, alcohol policy and the Halloween fee for guests ' all examples of the administration's tendency to seek out student opinion only after policies have been enacted ' it is difficult to give the administration a positive rating. But because the McDavis administration has made limited strides toward soliciting student input, such as the Town Hall Meetings, The Post encourages voters to mark a rating of two.
2) The McDavis administration respects student opinion with regard to university policies and the decision-making process.
It's hard to remember a time when the McDavis administration actually modified a policy because of student opinion. As noted above, the administration rarely solicits student input in a timely, useful manner. The Post encourages voters to mark a rating of one on this question.
3) The McDavis administration makes university budgeting and financial information available to the greater university community.
A looming $8.55 million budget deficit surprised faculty, students and McDavis himself, even though state subsidies have been decreasing for several years. General fee information is only now becoming transparent after it was criminally inaccessible for some time. Athletes are still asking for budget numbers to justify the cutting of certain programs. For those reasons, The Post encourages voters to mark a rating of one on this question.
4) Do you have confidence in President McDavis' ability to lead Ohio University?
The Post encourages voters to mark a no on this question with reservations. McDavis obviously needs to make some changes, especially in the areas of budget transparency and soliciting (and actually listening to) opinions besides his own. But new leadership is not necessary. McDavis seems to genuinely care for this institution, and the recent, well-publicized controversy might force him to change his ways. A no-confidence vote just might be the wake-up call he needs.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of the executive editors.
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