Enough with tuition increases and “shared governance” — it’s time to raise a F.U.S.S.
Matt Farmer, F.U.S.S.’s candidate for Ohio University Student Senate president, stood his ground in the final debate of the election season, hosted by The Post, as his ticket faced off against VOICE’s executive candidates.
“We need to start pushing for (shared governance) now even if it’s years and years in the making,” Farmer said. “At the end of the day, we’re pushing for advocacy and long-term goals … and bringing down that wall between students and Student Senate.”
Farmer, Jacob Chaffin, F.U.S.S.’s candidate for vice president, and Rebekah Rittenberg, F.U.S.S.’s candidate for treasurer, all stressed their goal to be open and accessible to students.
“With my experience on senate, I know how to change the bad and I know how to push for the good,” said Nick Southall, VOICE’s candidate for president. “I have the tangible goals to really change senate next year.”
Nick, along with Anna Morton, VOICE’s vice presidential candidate, and Austin LaForest, VOICE’s treasurer candidate, stressed their experience and willingness to work with OU’s administrators to enact change.
Morton stressed that there are initiatives and problems on campus that need to be addressed besides tuition increases.
“We have a pretty diverse platform of a lot of things. We went and talked to students,” Morton said. “Tuition was a big thing but it wasn’t the only thing.”
Chaffin emphasized his ticket’s experience in organizing social movements — such as Tuesday’s tuition protest — as evidence that F.U.S.S. can mobilize students for change.
“We have an inside and outside perspective on how student government works — I think that’s what makes us better,” Chaffin said. “We’ve been able to raise a fuss about issues that matter to students.”
LaForest and Rittenberg both cited a need for changes to the Senate Appropriations Commission, such as making the funding body more accessible to its constituents.
Rittenberg stressed the greater impact her ticket hopes to have on campus.
“We want to make sure everybody is heard through how we organize and communicate on campus,” Rittenberg said. “We want to bring students to senate.”
dd195710@ohiou.edu
