The race is on for the Ohio University Student Senate presidency, and six students have decided to throw their names into the mix.
As of the 5 p.m. deadline Thursday, two official tickets and four OU independent students registered for this year’s senate elections. The independents and the two parties, “REACH” and “yOU,” will be able to start campaigning officially Tuesday.
Zach George, a junior studying finance, is the presidential candidate under the REACH ticket with Amrit Saini, a junior studying philosophy and Evan Ecos, a junior studying communication, as his vice president and treasurer, respectively.
“I can be the change I want to see at this university,” said George, who is currently a university life commissioner for senate.
REACH will focus on stronger academics, sustainability, safety, inclusion, diversity, outreach, as well as advocacy and affordability, he said.
The party’s mission statement reads: “Promote the interest of students, to improve student participation in decision making and to encourage the integration of students, faculty, staff, and organizations.”
Tony Koehling, a junior studying political science, will be running for president on the yOU ticket, with Elizabeth Culp, a junior studying history and anthropology and Eric Holley, a junior studying finance and business economics, as vice president and treasurer, respectively.
“I am running in the spirit of competition with the purpose to make sure all students’ voices are heard and equally represented across campus,” Koehling said.
Koehling, who is currently a public relations representative for senate said yOU will stand for safety, diversity, budget accountability and enhancing representation.
Though yOU has few pillars, Koehling said he didn’t want to constrain his platform’s goals by making too many.
The mission statement for yOU reads: “Produce friendly competition while centralizing on the themes of safety, diversity, budget accountability, and enhancing representation.”
All candidates will undergo a background check by the Office of the Dean of Students to ensure their eligibility. The office hopes to have a complete list by Monday, Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi said.
The names of the independent candidates are unavailable until that time, he said.
sj950610@ohiou.edu
