The college setting is supposed to be the one place where students’ opinions count; where ONE voice matters.
Or doesn’t matter.
Ten percent of Ohio University students voted in the last ticket election, and it makes me wonder where the interest has gone, or even if it was ever there.
Regardless of the outcome of this election, many would call it unwise of Anna Lippincott to denigrate Restart’s “liberal weenie” movement for the specific reason that Restart embodies values that students throughout campus would identify with, such as… I don’t know, liberalism?
But forget about American-based politics, because right now is the time for political efficacy. The general student body isn’t as divided as the U.S. government (where every proposed movement is expected to gridlock), and that is why incorporating more of an all-for-all mindset is ideal — scratch that — necessary.
With tuition going up at the maximum rate in the last 20 years, the university apparently has accumulated enough surpluses to reward the administration with pay raises. However, the institution is jeopardizing its financial integrity by raising our tuition toward that of an elitist school while it still lacks many of the amenities of schools such as the University of Virginia or Ohio State University.
Students will suffer by receiving a diminished output for their tuition, and the university will lose great prospects who thought the lower tuition OU offered was what made the school more appealing than, say, a private school, or if you’re from out of state, OSU.
How come I hear so often about “The Back Four” on South Green needing to be renovated, yet the administration is set to build four new residence halls with current OU student/alumni money?
No offense to Dougan Hall, but I’d consider it a tease if I lived in Dougan, had lab classes at Clippinger and had to walk by Adams (and “The New Four” if you will) every day knowing my parents’ money was being spent on amenities for students who will go here 10 years from now, solely for the sake of increased income for the university.
Furthermore, there’s absolutely no good excuse why most school computers lack the programming (e.g., Java) necessary to support OU’s math placement test, but that is the case.
OU is approaching a slippery slope financially, and it’s impractical to think the interests of 25,000 students can hinge on the ordinance of a small bureaucracy and a puppet Student Senate.
It’s a given that many people won’t vote, but not allowing student groups the opportunity to make a significant impact further discourages student involvement. It promotes a culture of disinterest by disengaging and disallowing those who care to be heard out of consideration for those who don’t.
People who don’t care will not participate, and that’s OK.
People who truly do care will participate, and their presences will be felt extending as far as their ambitions carry.
This Thursday, I’ll be voting for Restart, a ticket that is feasible and more interested in advocating campus proficiency, by any means, than constructing their resumes.
Student Union has fought for years to gain influence for us all. It’s time that we give ourselves, along with future Bobcats, a chance.
Restart the system.
Chris Yangas is a freshman studying journalism.
