Sunday night marked the end of an Ohio University Student Senate era, as one of its longest-serving members formally resigned.
Mary Kate Gallagher, former residence life commissioner, began her senate career in October 2009. Gallagher has served a wide range of duties on senate, including roles on the health and safety commission and rules and procedures committee.
“Senate has taught me a lot of great things, and I have made some really great lifelong friends,” she said. “I am not resigning because of the people or the body itself; I am resigning because of the behavior.”
Gallagher stated that senate members disrespect one another while forfeiting the professionalism that comes with a senate position.
She specifically encouraged women to step forward and stand up for themselves when demeaned by other members of the body.
Some of senate’s members expressed their dismay at the behavior of the body and Gallagher’s resulting resignation.
“I am extremely disappointed that we are losing Mary Kate as she is a great asset to this body,” said Anna Morton, senate’s vice president. “She has committed so much and it is really disheartening … that she is leaving because of the actions and behavior on senate.”
Gallagher will address the body Wednesday evening at Student Speak OUt, where she plans on discussing some of the problems she encountered during her years on senate.
“I would challenge them to reach out more. I would really like to see senate step out of Baker 305,” Gallagher said.
Though she hopes to see external changes in the way the body functions, changes need to be made internally as well, Gallagher said.
“If this is a true senate family, we should be respecting each other all the way through,” she said. “I am just not all about politics anymore.”
Gallagher’s resignation will be felt on senate, especially on the resident life commission, said Student Senate President Nick Southall.
“It is sad to see her go, but more power to her,” Southall said.
Senate will also hear representatives from Athens Transit and Teach For America.
The body will hold an evaluation of senate’s executives — Southall, Morton and Senate Treasurer Austin LaForest — as is required for the fourth week of the term.
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