Ohio University Student Senate heard a presentation from several members of the body who attended the Ohio Student Government Association Conference in New York.
In the midst of Student Senate election season, the body’s meeting Wednesday focused on internal appointments, feedback aimed at improving internal functions and budgets for upcoming senate initiatives.
The meeting began with a presentation from a group of senators who attended this year’s American Student Government Association Conference in New York City.
“The cool thing was a lot of other schools actually look to us for advice, so we’re actually a lot more ahead of the game than we thought,” Nicole Schneider, university life vice-commissioner, said.
The conference covered topics including judicial panels, sexual assault prevention and the Senate Appropriations Commission or similar funding bodies, according to the presentation.
“One rule that they implemented for us when were were doing round tables was that we weren’t allowed to brag, or talk about your own initiative for more than one minute,” Courteney Muhl, Health Science and Professions senator, said. “We were really kicked in the butt to make ourselves better and keep evaluating.”
Other conversations at the conference focused on setting achievable goals.
“The reality of it is, some goals are always unattainable,” Hannah Clouser, senate treasurer, said. “You can’t get discouraged and you have to focus on how you as a student government can make lives better.”
Also at Wednesday night’s meeting, Jacob Haskins and Logan Stark were appointed to serve on the Rules and Procedures Committee following the resignation of a senior committee member, and Samirah Harris was appointed to the Women’s Affairs Commission.
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“I wanted to serve on the Rules and Procedures Committee because I’m really passionate about senate,” Haskins said. “Last year there were a lot of issues with following the rules so I had to make sure I was up to date.”
Additionally, five budgets, including those to fund an OHIO Women event and purchase a shredder for Students Defending Students, passed.
Other budgets will fund the purchase of blue books and pay for a viewing of the film Plastic Paradise: The Great Plastic Garbage Patch.
“It shows everyone that our plastic use is not temporary and it will affect the lives of the whole entire world, not just us, here. It does not decompose,” Logan Stark, environmental affairs commissioner, said of the film.
A final budget was passed to purchase pizza for upcoming Residence Life Open Forums that will invite student residents living on each green to communicate directly with their senate representatives.
Student Senate’s active campaigning period begins Thursday. Elections will take place March 29-30.
mb076912@ohio.edu
@mayganbeeler
