Ohio University Student Senate election campaigns formally began today with at least two tickets vying to lead senate in the 2009-10 year.
Senate treasurer Robert Leary and senator for Off-Campus Life and Students for a Democratic Society member Molly Shea both announced they are running for president.
Leary began his campaign yesterday, with volunteers handing out fliers around campus and in dining halls. Leary and his constituents also began a Facebook group and Web site announcing the candidacy. The Web site address is www.ouiou.wordpress.com.
We want to focus on closing the gap between Student Senate and students
Leary said. He said this was the fault of the senate, not students.
One of the biggest problems we have now is that Student Senate does not know the student voice.
Leary also said his platform encourages students to stay involved with Athens through community service.
Leary's platform, laid out on the Web site, aims for frequent contact between senators and student groups, as well as building partnerships with faculty and Athens officials. It also calls for static tuition enrollment, which allows students to pay the same tuition every year during their time at OU, and lobbying to make Budget Planning Council meetings public.
Running under the name iOU Leary's ticket includes current University Life Commissioner Emily Bacha as vice president and Residence Life Commissioner Emily Shuki as treasurer. The Web site lists candidates for residential green, academic college, off-campus life and at-large senators.
While Shea has not started her campaign yet, she said she plans to begin soon.
My campaign is about creating a more direct democracy Shea said. She says she wants all students to be able to vote on important issues, not just senators.
Shea said she still wants the senators to keep their current obligations, but that student voices should be more prominent in senate decisions.
Shea is the sponsor of the original two resolutions calling for students to vote on approval of the Board Of Trustees. The first version of the resolution was tabled for improvements, while the senate voted down the latest two.
Shea said she selected Erin Dame, president of Students for a Sensible Drug Policy as well as president of the Sierra Student Coalition, as vice president and Ashleigh Dye as treasurer. All three are members of SDS, and they will be running under the name Unite. Shea said she has yet to fill a few positions on her running ticket.
The deadline for submitting paperwork for running in the election is today. Robert Sampson of Student Senate's Board of Elections could not be reached for comment on additional candidates for senate.
Senate elections will be held May 14.
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Tristan Navera
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Candidate for Academic College Graduate College Senator Josh Bodnar and Kierra Westmoreland, candidate for Residential Green Senator for West Green, hand out post-it notes to students outside of Boyd Dining Hall. Bodnar and Westmoreland are members of the iOU party. Sara C. Tobias/ Chief Photographer
Leary, Shea announce Student Senate President candidacies, platforms
