Every year, specifically near election season, the Ohio University Student Senate’s very nature and purpose is questioned. The body is often accused of being an “exclusive body of do-nothings who meet on a weekly basis, yet accomplish nothing.” It is finally within our own ability, your ability, to change such misconceived notions both as a Senate and Bobcat community. This week, Student Senate applications will become available to all OU students.
Presently, OU faces a number of challenges that shake the very foundations of our institution. In the past few years state funding has dwindled; million-dollar cuts have been made; tuition, room and board, health care and utility expenses have increased; academic departments have been slashed; staff and faculty have been laid off or taken pay reductions and still the end is not in sight.
At this point in time, OU stands at a crossroads faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. It is such adversity that causes some to break and others to break records — I hope Senate and OU will be the latter of the two. Every great person, every successful man, no matter what the field of endeavor, has known the magic that lies in these words: “Every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.” Fire is the test of gold, a challenge for strong men and women like us.
It is not sufficient just to want; we have to ask ourselves what we are going to do to get the things we want. In our own personal ambitions, we are individuals. But in our seeking for the progress of this university, we all go up or else we all go down as one body. Let us remember that self-interest is the enemy of all true affection and with the realization of our own potential and self-confidence in our ability, we can build a better OU.
As the new president-elect of the Ohio University Student Senate, I have always been of the belief that if you have not the will to change it, you have not the right to criticize it. Consider this a call to action, a challenge to those critics of past Student Senates. If you too want to see a better Ohio University, I encourage you to consider joining Senate and be the change you want to see. Applications can be found in front of the Student Senate office of Baker 305 and are due Tuesday, May 29 by 5 p.m. Feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions at zg154509@ohiou.edu.
Thanks again, and go Bobcats!
Zach George is a junior studying accounting and finance and is the president-elect of Student Senate.
