Graduate Student Senate had a discussion about Milo Yiannopoulos visiting campus and voted on four resolutions at its Wednesday night meeting.
Yiannopoulos, a conservative commentator and journalist, is scheduled to visit campus Dec. 2 for an event sponsored by Ohio University College Republicans. The nature of his talks and events that have been held at other universities across the country sparked concern among GSS.
Many GSS members suggested an alternative to the event, which will be held in Nelson Commons, that does not involve protesting but instead giving back to the community or self-care.
“There are so many times people go to protest, but if you can channel that into helping the community, that’s one of the best things I’ve heard in awhile” Jacob Smith, mechanical engineering representative, said in response to the suggestion.
However, LGBT Center Director delfin bautista said the concern is not only the students who would be there but the community members who could attend. Another concern is the timing of the event since it will be held after Election Day, which could create tensions.
“Our concern is the safety of the campus,” bautista, who uses they/them pronouns and the lowercase spelling of their name, said. “My concern is what his visit will spark. None of us are saying he shouldn’t come, but how he’s going to come is the conversation.”
After debating what the best solution would be, the discussion was tabled until the next general body meeting.
“I think keeping this conversation going is really important,” Angie Chapman, vice president for legislative affairs, said. “Change happens from everybody, not just from up here.”
OU President Roderick McDavis will answer questions at the body's Nov. 1 meeting. He has not spoken with GSS “in a setting like that” since Nov. 18 of last year, GSS President Ian Armstrong said. The general body talked about the topics they want to discuss with McDavis.
“We don’t know if he’ll ever come again,” Women’s Affairs Commissioner Colleen Carman said. “I think if we have a question, we might as well ask it.”
Members of GSS voted to approve a video-creation task force that will respond to “culturally-motivated hatred on campus.”
“This would be a unique chance for GSS to be at the forefront of one of the dominant issues on campus,” Christopher Glick, representative for political science, said.
Additionally, the general body passed a resolution to appoint Haley Hemming, a graduate student studying sociology who said she has many ideas to bring to the body, to be the new academic affairs commissioner. It also passed resolutions to change the name LGBT commission to LGBTQA and be involved in the review of the university facility naming policies.
