This semester might bring the first-ever dual meeting of Athens City Council and Ohio University Student Senate.
Though this past semester’s plans for a joint session fell through, council members and student senators alike hope to mark a date on the calendar this spring that works for both legislative bodies.
Moving City Council to Student Senate’s chambers at Walter Hall proved to be a difficult challenge of planning the joint session this past semester, said Jim Sands, City Council president.
“We talked and decided that we wanted to get out of this room, but it proved to be more difficult than we anticipated,” Sands said, adding that moving City Council’s broadcast equipment was the primary roadblock that prevented the meeting from taking place.
Since City Council meets Mondays and Student Senate meets Wednesdays, scheduling a date for both bodies caused problems as well, said Giles Allen, Student Senate governmental affairs commissioner.
Allen and Sands both were unsure of what topics will be discussed at the joint meeting.
With 10 weeks left this semester, though, Sands said that he hopes to plan a definitive date for the combined meeting, despite having not contacted anyone from Student Senate yet.
“There’s nothing holding us back,” Sands said. “We’re at the beginning of a new semester and now is a good time to plan it.”
Though no Student Senate members have contacted him this semester, Sands said that he and George met last semester and tried to schedule a meeting to no avail.
In years past, student senators were invited to attend City Council as members of the public, but the proposed session would be more of a formal dialogue, said Council Clerk Debbie Walker.
The dialogue would lead to more familiarity between OU students and the politicians who govern the city in which they live, Allen said.
“I think it’s always good to get to know the leaders in the city we live in,” Allen said. “I also think it would be good for (council members) to hear issues we’re facing because it opens up a positive dialogue between Student Senate and
city hall.”
Sands said he hopes to make the joint session a bi-annual event for City Council.
“I would really like to put it on the schedule for every semester,” Sands said. “We really need to put it on both of our calendars to make sure (the meeting) happens this time.”
sh335311@ohiou.edu
This story was updated to include the correct spelling of Giles Allen's name.
