After the three-year presidency of Tracy Kelly, Ohio University’s Graduate Student Senate is set to receive an executive facelift without switching its controlling party.
Molly Yanity will head a group of current senators who have decided to run as a full ticket under Kelly’s PROUD banner. The other three executive chairs and six senators will join Yanity, GSS Board of Elections Chair John Hummel said.
Yanity is a graduate student studying journalism and serves as the vice president for communication for GSS. She also serves on The Post’s publishing board.
The presidential candidate has served on GSS for more than two years after coming to OU in September of 2009.
“I want to keep running along this path (Kelly set),” Yanity said. “I am really excited.”
The rest of the executives on the ballot include Isaac Abram for vice president for committees and legislative affairs; Tynita White for vice president for administration and finance; and Ashley Furrow for vice president for communication.
Senator candidates include Kat Mitchell for the College of Arts and Sciences; Jessica Ferguson for the Scripps College of Communication; David Foster for the Patton College of Education; Frank Miller for the College of Fine Arts; Lauren Mente for the College of Health and Human Services; and Rudaba Nasir for the Center for International Studies.
Benjamin Weiner will run as an independent candidate for the Russ College of Engineering, Hummel said.
There are no senator candidates for the College of Business.
Kelly has one year left in the public administration master’s program and has already completed her master’s in political science. Though she isn’t graduating, she said it’s time for a change in power for GSS and that she will continue to work with the senate on a volunteer basis.
“I’d be happy to work with this year’s team, but I’d love to see a new president take the lead,” she said.
Elections will be held May 17.
hm156809@ohiou.edu
