Despite interruptions by student protestors, the Ohio University Board of Trustees unanimously passed all resolutions brought forward at Friday’s meeting.
Trustees first approved the Series 2013 Debt Issuance resolution which allows OU to authorize, issue and sell bonds, which would not exceed $175 million. The resolution authorizes a Supplemental Trust Agreement to secure the bonds.
The Board also approved a resolution which reinstated the Ridges Advisory Committee and another which will rename the Academic and Research Center student organization meeting room, Room 112, to the C. David Snyder Student Collaboration Room. Also, another passed resolution authorizes construction contracts within the total project budgets identified by the six-year Capital Improvement Plan.
A resolution approving $28.1 million, supporting the Ohio Service Alignment Initiative, was approved. Also, a resolution to accept gifts of land near the Proctorville Center at the University’s Southern campus passed. The land will be used as recreation space for students and community members.
Another resolution was ratified to establish the Center for Public and Social Innovation in the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs.
Bill Bias, president of Athens City council, was appointed by trustees to the Kennedy Museum of Art Advisory Board for a three year term.
A resolution which has caused two student protests this week passed unanimously.
The resolution increased tuition to $10,380 per year, or 1.6 percent.
After unanimously approving the increase, about 15 students, some of which were members of the OU Student Union, stood up in protest.
The protestors held a banner which read, “Education is not a commodity, students are not customers, stop selling us."
One of the protestors, Megan Marzec, a sophomore studying studio art, read a speech from a piece of paper while circling the room.
“Yet again, the Ohio University Board of Trustees has demonstrated that they are clueless about the crises that is facing Ohio University students,” she said. “In the act of increasing tuition in the middle of a student loan debt crisis you have exposed your priorities, your perspectives, your attitudes toward students… and they are shameful.”
After Anderson temporarily suspended the meeting, all trustees left the room.
Marzec and three other student protestors were escorted from the room by OUPD officers on duty, the four protestors, including Marzec, were then arrested for violating Ohio Revised Code 2917.12.
After about 10 minutes, the trustees resumed session and continued approving resolutions, most of which were more increases.
There will be a 5 percent increase to the instructional fee and non-resident surcharge at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine — totaling $14,538 and $6,505 per semester, respectively, for the 2013-2014 school year.
Other increases include a 3.5 percent increase in Residential Housing costs and a 0.5 percent increase for meal plans.
Another resolution approved was the proposed fee schedule for student course, technology and miscellaneous fees.
Trustee Sandra Anderson and trustee David Brightbill were elected as chair and vice chair of the Board of Trustees, respectively, for the upcoming year.
The Board of trustees will convene again on June 21.
bc822010@ohiou.edu
