It might be early October, but it feels like Spring Quarter at Ohio University.
Sunny skies and cool breezes met a horde of protestors Friday on College Green, as more than 60 supporters of Students for a Democratic Society congregated to voice objection to a variety of university policies.
The group gave OU administrators one week to respond to its demands, which were to eliminate the areas on campus known as free speech zones
rehire laid-off union members and give student groups more voice in university affairs.
We haven't heard anything yet but we gave them a week to respond said junior Will Klatt, a member of SDS. We are going to wait for the university's response
but we are committed to accomplishing the goals in our demands.
At the Civil War monument on College Green, SDS members and union workers voiced their concerns and read off a list of demands, which included a more democratic atmosphere on campus and the uniting of students, workers and faculty.
Later, the group marched to Baker University Center, where it presented its demands to Executive Vice President and Provost Kathy Krendl.
Klatt told Krendl that shared governance on campus is a sham and that he wants a fundamental restructuring of the university's governance system.
Krendl then asked for specific examples of complaints, adding if she was going to carry any message back to the administration, she would need to have some context.
I didn't come to give you answers
Krendl said. I came because you wanted to deliver a message.
In regards to the free speech policy, Krendl said she was going to talk about the proposed changes with Vice President for Student Affairs Kent Smith.
She also told the group that members of the Board of Trustees have begun meeting with students to reduce anonymity and that creating a Web site to communicate with students about changes in policy is a possibility.
Klatt also demanded to Krendl that the university rehire the 24 union members who were laid off, but Krendl said, It's not my unit. Take a look at the budget to see.
Debbie Sherman, a union member and custodian at Shively Hall, said the university keeps creating administrative jobs while expecting union members to do more with less. She said she doesn't think anything was accomplished at the rally and that students got the same run-around as union members.
But Krendl said the discussion was helpful.
I learned some things and I am going to take the suggestions to the people immediately involved
she said.
The rally and meeting had negative and positive results, Klatt said.
I think we need to figure out the next step in getting what we are after
he said.
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Emilie Schneider
