Ohio University’s Student Senate ended its year last night with several awards and some Justin Bieber.
Toward the beginning of the meeting, Vice President Matthew Beddingfield debuted a parody video he made of Justin Bieber’s hit single “Baby,” changing the words so they applied to senate.
Beddingfield said he was extremely proud of all of the work senate has done this year and is sad to leave.
“I’m going to miss you guys, not only as colleagues but also as friends,” Beddingfield said. “People are counting on you next year: make a difference, advocate the needs of your constituencies.”
After reviewing “a number of quality applicants,” Student Senate awarded the Bobcat Medal award to Kristina Canfield, a graduate student studying college student personnel who founded the Collegiate Recovery Committee.
The committee has opened doors for people who wouldn’t necessarily be able to come to college, said Mary Kate Gallagher, the health and safety delegate, who sponsored Canfield for the award.
“She has definitely changed this university for the better,” Gallagher said.
The Bobcat Medal is the highest award that Student Senate gives, and it is for those who positively affect OU, said President Jesse Neader.
Student Senate also awarded select senate members for their outstanding service throughout the school year.
The Senator Emeriti Committee awarded Neader senator emeritus status. Black Affairs Commissioner Nicole Ntumba spoke on Neader’s behalf and said that he deserved the award.
“For the last four years, he’s put in a lot of time and effort (into senate) to make it into the organization that it is today,” Ntumba said.
Several other senators said that they appreciated his emphasis on diversity and his ability to get the job done.
Beddingfield said that Neader has been more than a president and fellow senator for him.
“(Jesse has) been more like a brother to me,” Beddingfield said. “I’m 100 percent positive that, as an old man, I’m going to be calling (him) up.”
The meeting ended with a photo slideshow of the graduating senate seniors as well as members’ shout-outs to fellow senate members.
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