Ohio University Student Senate kicked off the new academic year with a meeting reaffirming protocols, teaching new members and setting a new precedent.
Senate voted to approve four resolutions and heard a presentation from President Hannah Clouser and Chief of Staff Landen Lama about “Student Senate 101.”
One of the resolutions passed made history as graduate student Hashim Pashtun was appointed Student Senate’s first ever Chief Justice of the Judicial Panel.
“It’s something new, a new position, and I’m pretty excited about that because I think one of the things senate really needed to make sure that accountability is done,” Pashtun said after the meeting. “I’ll try my best.”
Pashtun served on Student Senate in the past and received senator emeritus status, meaning he has voting rights in the body, but said he will not use that privilege as Chief Justice.
The body also voted to appoint members to the Budget Committee, where Jacob Haskins will serve as chair for the second year in a row. Additionally, resolutions reaffirming the meeting time to Wednesday’s at 7:15 p.m. and the use of Robert’s Rules of Order, a form of parliamentary procedure, were also passed.
“I wasn’t expecting (the resolutions) not to be (passed),” Clouser said after the meeting. “But I’m excited that they were.”
Student Senate members, many of whom had not been to a meeting in the past, listened to the presentation from Clouser and Lama which gave a rundown of how parliamentary procedure works and how meetings operate.
“It’s a lot of information quickly,” Lama said after the meeting. “I mean no one’s gonna get it all down tonight.”
Jordan Simon, the director of Veteran's Affairs, said Wednesday was the first senate meeting he's attended.
“I think it went really well,” Simon said about Clouser and Lama’s presentation. “I was just kind of digesting it as the meeting went on.”
About 15 freshmen interested in joining senate were also in attendance.
“We're surprised with the turnout,” Nicole Schneider, director of internships, said. “A majority of the ones sitting here today have already applied (for the internship program).”
Clouser added that she was “really happy” with how the first meeting went.
“I think we’re gonna have a really great year,” she said. “I’m excited to see what the body does.”
