Hippies, tree-huggers and socialists of Ohio University ... enough. You know who you are. To be quite frank, I am fed up with all of your pissing and moaning about our current Student Senate. You whine, you complain and you constantly degrade our elected student voices instead of offering your own ideas to make it better. Some of you are clearly still bitter about the results of last year's election (It was so unfortunate that group of student representatives wasn't elected that would have resorted to anarchist characteristics). So, stop trying to make a scene and maybe try collaborating with our current senate to form a better student voice.
In case you did not know, Student Senate has an office in Baker University Center, room 305. It exists for people like you who are unhappy with the way things are. Over the course of the past year, I can count on one hand the number of people who have come into the senate office to confront senate members about their concerns. Kudos to those of you who have. As for the rest of you - you who resort to newsprint and media to express your opinions - get the courage, or whatever it is you lack, and walk into the senate office and confront your elected senate members with any questions, concerns or complaints you might have. But do not leave that office until you have come up with an idea, an alternative or a solution to a problem that can be fixed.
That being said ... What is it exactly that you would like to achieve? You apparently lack faith in our university's president and Board of Trustees, but what can you really do about it? Students do not need the senate to voice their opinions. Do it yourself. Most students have the ability to contact the president or Board of Trustee members directly with issues they are concerned with.
Now, in regard to the current debate over whether or not there should be a vote of confidence in the Board of Trustees added to the ballot, I ask why. These trustees are in their position for many reasons, including being approved by the governor of Ohio, among other things. That aside, let's for a moment say that this resolution is added to the ballot and students do vote in a lack of confidence in the Board of Trustees. Then what? It's not like we can just fire and hire. And besides, we still will not know why the students voted the way they did. It is a very trite question. Look, these trustees are not dumb. They want the university to succeed and accordingly, they make their decisions based on improving the quality of the education and experiences we obtain at this institution.
Moving on ... Why do you think we should also add to the ballot a vote on whether or not student trustees or trustees in general should be popularly elected? Remember, it is you who keep insisting that senate should not be a popularity contest - which I agree, although it is unrelated to the position of student trustee. Then again, maybe we should just elect the Supreme Court too. How can this possibly better represent the minds of all university students? It is a position that requires more. The current student trustees and trustees who have been or will be appointed/approved are some of the brightest and best our university has to offer and they are clearly dedicated to bettering OU. Think of it as an IOU. They are giving back to the university that has given them so much already. Student trustees should not be elected. The process in place is fine the way it is. Furthermore, if you have such a problem with the way the board operates, why don't you apply yourself for a student trustee position? Until then, lay off.
So put away your organic food, your tie-dyed T-shirts, your hand-rolled Bugle cigarettes and the rest of your differences and work with us rather than against us to better this great institution we call ours.
Evan Webb is a sophomore studying aviation and a member of Ohio University's Student Senate.
4 Opinion
Letter to the Editor
