Student Senate's vice president advocated for student trustee voting rights at the statehouse in Columbus on Tuesday and will share his experience with senate Wednesday night.
Jared Ohnsman, Ohio University Student Senate vice president, advocated for student trustee voting rights at the statehouse in Columbus Tuesday and will share his experience with senate’s general body at its meeting Wednesday night.
Ohnsman gave a testimony in front of the Government Accountability and Oversight Committee on behalf of Ohio House Bill 183, which would grant student trustees full voting rights and access to executive sessions at public universities' boards of trustees.
Currently, student trustees are appointed to two-year terms as nonvoting members of the boards, according to the Ohio Department of Education.
“The goal of the trip is to advocate on behalf of students not only at Ohio University, but students at public universities across Ohio in order to give student trustees a true seat at the table for decision making,” Ohnsman said in an email. “Advocating and working with state lawmakers for trustee voting rights was something that the SOS ticket had campaigned on, so it's nice to really put in work for that.”
Student Senate leaders have been advocating for student trustee voting rights since the 1990s, Ohnsman said.
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Also at Wednesday's meeting, senate will hear a resolution to appoint Pable Beierle, current Residence Life intern, to the position of West Green senator.
Budgets may be added to the agenda at the beginning of Wednesday’s meeting, Abby Fairbanks, senate’s chief of staff, said.
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