In the final meeting of the school year, Ohio University Student Senate met in OU’s governance room to pass the flame from one administration to another.
Senators swore in new members and reflected on the contributions of the graduating seniors during a meeting that lasted more than three hours in Walter Hall.
The body also passed a resolution in support of student trustee voting rights and bestowed the Bobcat Medal on David Descutner, dean of University College.
“We are an educational institution and for a very long time, light has been the symbol for education,” said Mary Kate Gallagher, senate’s University Life commissioner and chair of the Bobcat Medal committee. “Something I think the committee agrees with me on is that Dr. Descutner has this light that he passes on to everyone around him.”
Descutner received the award — which was actually a plaque — to applause from the body.
“I’ve known many, many students in this room since they were first-year students,” Descutner said. “What makes it important to me is this comes from students. What makes it especially important is it comes from Student Senate.”
After passing a resolution requesting OU’s Board of Trustees take a clear stance on student trustee voting rights, the emotional part of the meeting began.
Zach George, senate’s president, Amrit Saini, vice-president, Evan Ecos, treasurer, Sean Martin, chief of staff, Tina Kongkeo, chair of the Student Appropriations Commission, and Victoria Calderon, former chief of staff, were inducted as senator emeriti.
Melinda Ruberg, off-campus life commissioner, and Giles Allen, governmental affairs commissioner, were given senate honors.
As resolutions were passed giving each member the title of senator emeriti or senate honors, senators spoke as to why each individual was important to them and senate as a whole.
Following the “senior send-off” portion of the event, senate’s new members were sworn into their positions for next year.
Next year’s executives — President Nick Southall, Vice President Anna Morton and Treasurer Austin LaForest — were sworn into their new roles as the leaders of OU’s student government after a three-week election campaign.
“This has been an incredible year,” Saini said. “By far, the best of four and most of the people here have been a part of that.”
