As tonight’s debate will show, we have different values, different priorities and different visions for Ohio University. But there is one thing that we all agree on, and that any of us will make a priority if elected Student Senate President: STAND Against Genocide’s Bobcats for a Conflict-free Campus campaign.
The deadliest war since World War II is currently underway in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Human rights abuses perpetrated in the context of this war include mass rape and child soldiering. The armed groups responsible for these violations earn hundreds of millions of dollars every year by selling minerals that are used in all electronics.
But only a few electronics companies have taken the necessary first steps toward tracing, auditing and certifying their supply chains to create Congo-sourced conflict-free products.
STAND Against Genocide and their supporters have been fighting hard for 19 months to convince OU to pursue socially responsible procurement and investment policies when it comes to electronics. Despite the unanimous support of Student Senate and Graduate Student Senate, OU has yet to do so much as publicly acknowledge the link between the products it buys and invests in and the violence in the Congo.
In following the other schools that already have policies on conflict minerals, OU could be a leader for human rights. We could uphold our values of community, character, citizenship, civility and commitment. This would be a true source of Bobcat pride.
Last year, all three Student Senate presidential candidates publicly expressed their unequivocal support for Bobcats for a Conflict-free Campus. We are pleased to follow in their footsteps. This is one issue that all Bobcats — regardless of their political affiliations or visions for this university — ought to come together on.
To learn more about our specific past and planned engagement with Bobcats for a conflict-free campus, visit our campaign websites and Facebook groups.
To get involved in the struggle for a conflict-free OU, stop by a STAND Against Genocide meeting any Monday at 7:00 p.m. in Bentley 021, or visit oustand.org.
Jared Henderson is a junior studying for philosophy and is running as an independent for Student Senate president, Zach George is a junior studying political science and is running for Student Senate president in the REACH party and Tony Koehling is a junior studying political science and is running for Student Senate president in the yOU party.
