From the moment they are sworn in, Ohio University’s Student Senate 2014-15 leaders plan to restart the body’s procedures.
Student Senate will have its last meeting of the year Wednesday night, and by the end of it President-elect Megan Marzec will officially assume the title “President Marzec.”
Marzec and the other new executives will be sworn in just before the meeting adjourns, said current senate President Anna Morton.
The meeting will be held at senate’s regular meeting time of 7:15 p.m., but it will take place in the Governance Room in Walter Hall as opposed to its usual quarters in Walter 235, Morton said.
Marzec, along with members of the Student Union, constructed a new oath for the executive officers to take when they are sworn into office, she said.
Marzec said she thinks the executive officers need to take a stronger stance for students, and a new oath would be the way to do just that, helping to define the Restart era of senate.
“I think the oath itself will be the first step in setting the tone of student government’s new role on campus under the Restart administration,” she said.
Ryan Lombardi, senate’s adviser and vice president for Student Affairs, said the new oath didn’t surprise him and that it echoes the Restart’s message during its campaign.
However, because of senate’s current rules, the executive officers won’t be able to be sworn in using the new oath, Morton said.
Morton said next year’s body could change the oath in the senate rules and pass it with a two-thirds vote but that the current body will not be taking a vote allowing the new oath to be used.
“That would be the new senate, to vote on it, and that would be strange because we didn’t propose that idea,” she said. “It would be a little unnatural for us.”
If the new executives refuse to take the current oath, they would not be allowed to assume their positions, Morton said.
If Marzec and Vice President-elect Caitlyn McDaniel don’t take the oath, it could lead to a promotion for the Treasurer-elect, Carter Phillips.
“If they refuse to take it, the executives cannot assume their positions,” Morton said. “If Carter agrees to take it, Carter would then assume the presidency, and there would be two vacancies in the executive positions, and we would be back to square one.”
Morton said she sat down with Marzec on Tuesday to explain the rules about the oath to her, and Marzec said she and McDaniel would take the current senate oath and then take their own oath once they are sworn in. Phillips said he would not take a second oath out of respect for the current oath and history of the body.
“(Restart) did receive the votes, there is a valid argument, but just with the rules now there is no leeway (for a new oath),” Marzec said.
Current Oath:
“I (name of Executive Officer) swear (or affirm) that I will uphold the Constitution and Rules and Procedures of Senate, faithfully carry out my duties as an Executive Officer, do nothing to bring shame or discredit to Senate or the University and ensure that Senate fulfills its duties and responsibilities as the student government of Ohio University.”
Proposed Oath:
“I (name of Executive Officer) affirm that I will work diligently to advance the cause of student autonomy, solidarity, power and liberation. I will never abandon the student struggle against corporatization of higher education and for social, environmental and economic justice. I will never succumb to fear or selfishness while confronting threats or bribery from those in power. I will never lose sight of the goal of unionizing the student body and I will remember those who came before me in the history of collective action.”
@mariadevito10
md781510@ohiou.edu
