In recent weeks, Student Senate election campaigns have been taking place throughout campus leading up to the May 18th and May 19th vote. I truly believe that the RSVP party is worth your vote when the time comes.
RSVP has many experienced sitting Student Senate members that have worked tirelessly to better Ohio University. Mr. Wallace, FACE’s presidential candidate, has stated before that RSVP and the current senate is full of “resume builders” content with the “status quo.”
In his platform, Mr. Wallace has questioned how outsiders get involved with Student Senate “when most senators are ass-kissers and resume-builders.” When I worked on Gender Neutral Housing and Pride Week, I didn’t know that I was kissing anyone’s buttocks.
Mr. Wallace continues to undermine the current senate and throw false statements that put the current senate in a negative light. What Mr. Wallace forgets is that Student Senate is an advocacy body and that it has worked tirelessly to improve the university.
Mr. Wallace wants examples, and examples are what he will get. RSVP candidates and supporters have done many projects on senate that include: Islamophobia; Take Back the Night; Gender-Neutral Housing; Pride Week; Dinner with Dean Middleton; Scripps Talk; Collegiate Recovery Community; Dinner with Dean Lombardi at Shively Dining Hall; and many others that show that we are reaching out to students.
I am forced to believe that Mr. Wallace did little research when creating his platform. He criticizes the current senate executives and past executives for “doing a 180” on opening BPC meetings, but was forced to make “a 180” regarding his position on AlcoholEdu after realizing that passing a resolution wasn’t going to break a multi-million dollar contract with the company and the university.
Mr. Wallace also says that he will save the university a mere $12,000 by declining his presidential scholarship. Little does Mr. Wallace know that he wouldn’t be able to give the scholarship back to the students; it would stay in the Provost’s office.
FACE has made multiple reservations through Baker University Center that have blocked other student organizations from advertising their organization and events. On May 10, every single first-floor-lobby table was empty from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., booked by various student organizations that Matt Wallace and other members of FACE are associated with, completely unmanned.
Getting rid of political parties for Student Senate and avoiding cronyism?
Mr. Wallace, the last time I checked, you are running on a political party, and you have supporters, also known as a “crony.”
Mr. Wallace has continually contradicted himself over and over throughout the campaign. RSVP is ready to serve the students. I have full confidence that if RSVP wins the election, they will continue to serve the students effectively while opening doors to “outsiders” through the application process, staff positions, and the intern program. The current senate had a new website created with all contact information, meeting information, services and ways to get involved, and if elected, I have no doubt that RSVP will keep up with the website in order to reach out to students.
I encourage all students to vote RSVP May 18 and 19.
Sean Martin is the Student Senate LGBT Affairs commissioner.
