Two Ohio University student senators drew on the title of a popular movie at last night’s Student Senate meeting when they asked their peers to help them “Play it Forward.”
Senate members Jess Jones and Jena Green presented their idea to involve students and employees from OU and area middle schools in several sports- and health-related initiatives to raise money for Good Works, an organization that works to feed and support residents of Athens.
Good Works serves about 20,000 meals a year, and “Play it Forward” would offer several events to raise money and collect food for the organization, Green said.
Jones and Green proposed a tournament at Ping Center — either volleyball or basketball — for which students, faculty and staff would pay to play.
They also discussed the possibility of hosting healthy-eating sessions with students from Athens Middle School and other area schools.
“We thought it would be sweet if the whole campus could ‘pay it forward,’” Jones said.
The final part of the “Play it Forward” scheme would invite students, faculty and staff to sponsor players at an OU basketball game. For each time a player scored, those who had sponsored that player would donate a specific amount.
The plans are still tentative, and Jones and Green said they wanted the support and ideas of senate members before they asked outside organizations and people to collaborate.
“It’s one of those things where you have a big idea and you just try to make it happen,” Green said.
