The Dec. 23 arrest of our one-time Student Senate President Nick Southall for disorderly intoxication was the straw that stunned the camel’s back, as it were.
Nevertheless, any newfound optimism that Senate will suddenly become relevant to the students of Ohio University is sorely misplaced.
Senate has cultivated a culture that not only tolerated Southall’s behavior, but encouraged it. It reflects poorly on the judgment of a body that not only openly campaigned for Southall, but even, after Southall accomplished nothing of significance and slut-shamed more than half the campus on Twitter, reaffirmed its confidence in Southall at the end of the semester.
Vice President Anna Morton’s ascendency to the presidency of senate is a positive turn of events. For one, it ends the reign of male-dominated presidents that dates back to 2006. Personally, I find Morton to be professional and thus unlikely to embarrass the university through scandal.
However, Morton still supported and campaigned with Southall and has been part of the status-quo Senate going on four years now, and it is doubtful that she is going to bring about the radical overhaul Senate needs.
I’m eager to be proven wrong. Senate’s first major decision this Wednesday will be to vote for a vice president. Whomever is elected to this position will speak volumes about the character of the student body.
In the interest of fairness, Senate could vote to suspend the rules and elect former FUSS vice presidential candidate Jacob Chaffin. Arguably, he has the most legitimate claim to the position, considering he received more votes for vice president in 2013’s election than anyone but Morton.
If Senate does not suspend the rules, it will have to elect a current voting member of the body. Electing someone who is part of the Senate machine – that is, someone who either campaigned for, was elected with, or was appointed by members of VOICE – is confirmation that for Senate, staying out of jail is the only measure of a successful term.
Sadly, this seems like the most likely outcome, albeit an uninteresting one.
That leaves Honors Tutorial College Senator Allie Erwin as the only voting member who does not fit the above description, as she ran as an independent write-in. Erwin’s election to vice president would be both a courageous and exciting move for a body that has grown predictable and tepid over the years.
The members of Senate had their chance to select a president, and they chose Southall. He’s gone. Rather than giving them a do-over, perhaps it’s time for an outside voice.
Matt Farmer is a senior studying political science and education. Who should be the new vice president of Student Senate? Send Matt your thoughts at mf291209@ohiou.edu.
