After a year and a half in the making, Ohio University released a revised free speech policy that more clearly defines who can and cannot organize events on campus.
The revised Use of Outdoor Space policy approved by OU last month removes the vagueness of who is an affiliated party and who is unaffiliated and gives student organizations an advantage in registering spaces.
In the previous policy, OU allowed registered student organizations and university departments to use certain locations on campus. The new policy now allows affiliated groups or individuals defined as all University students and employees
including faculty administrators to utilize 25 locations on campus. Also, affiliated groups and individuals can reserve a specific space on campus from a provided list but are still free to protest anywhere, though they are not guaranteed exclusivity.- said Kent Smith, vice president of Student Affairs.
Although the revised policy passes legal scrutiny there are still pending cases challenging any restriction to free speech, said Pat McGee, managing attorney for Center for Student Legal Services.
While Smith hasn't received feedback from students, the response from student representatives who helped change the policy has been mostly positive.
It definitely reflects our opinion
said Brittany Buxton, the representative from Graduate Student Senate who served on the committee. I just wish it would have gone through faster.
Roder said she is pleased OU listened.
It's really going to change the climate of the university
she said. I'm ecstatic the university passed it and actually listened.
Junior Will Klatt, founding member of OU's Students for a Democratic Society and a candidate for next year's Student Senate presidency, is glad they changed the policy but remains critical of the previous policy.
The administration was using it (old policy) as a bully pulpit to tell certain groups they couldn't organize on campus
Klatt said. I think there is a culture of silencing people who are criticizing the administration.-
a new project promises to make many off-campus houses more eco-friendly without the big commitment.
The Office of Sustainability and the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development launched The Green House Project
which recommends home improvements that make houses more energy efficient
said Sonia Marcus
OU's sustainability coordinator.
Simple changes could offset damage to the environment and save students hundreds of dollars a year in utility bills
she said.
A $50
