Student Senate members are enthusiastic about change coming due to headway made during Wednesday’s meeting.
In its second meeting of the year, Student Senate passed three resolutions, described by President Megan Marzec as “groundbreaking.”
The passed resolutions officially created the Environmental, Student Worker and Administrative Accountability committees.
Chair of the Environmental Committee Olivia Wallace expressed enthusiasm for her committee’s victory Wednesday night.
“We’ve had this idea in motion since Restart won the campaign (last spring),” Wallace, a former Post photographer, said. “I’m excited that we are a legitimate committee now.”
Wallace highlighted some of the committee’s proposed plans, such as holding energy saving contests among the Greens, reducing the use of water bottles and plastic bags on campus and working with the Bobcats Beyond Gas campaign.
She called the initiative “large scale,” adding that it may call for discussions with the university about having “greener energy” on campus.
The Environmental Committee is the only committee currently with a chair. The head positions of the Student Worker and Administrative Accountability committees are still under discussion and are to be appointed by Marzec.
The Student Worker Committee calls for the education and organization of student workers on campus. One goal is for the workers to collectively voice their demands.
The resolution, which created the committee, stated that the current compensation for most campus workers is below the poverty line and far below a living wage.
Some concerns were raised during the discussion about the Administrative Accountability Committee due to what some considered a lack of knowledge about what the committee would do.
The resolution ultimately passed.
The resolution for this committee demands easier access to information involving the compensation, financial standing and any breaches of contract involving OU administrators.
The committee will be responsible for making an itemized list of compensation and benefits of all administrators with salaries that exceed $150,000.
Excited about the evening’s progress, Marzec said the resolutions are “very telling of the work that we continue to do throughout the year toward student power, fighting for student power and workers’ rights and taking a firm stance against exorbitant administrative raises.”
Student Senate Treasurer Carter Phillips also expressed eagerness for the headway that the body made.
“I think it’s a positive step in the right direction,” Phillips said. “It’s a positive impact for students, giving them a stronger voice on campus.”
@Alisa_Warren
aw120713@ohio.edu
