Student Senate voted down a resolution to add a vote of confidence in Ohio University's Board of Trustees last night after an hour of heated debate.
The resolution - which was defeated 12-22 - proposed adding the statement I have confidence in the current voting members of the Board of Trustees to govern Ohio University to the Senate ballot during its May 16 election, which students could agree with, disagree with or abstain from answering.
Molly Shea, Senator for Off- Campus Life, amended the resolution from a version presented two weeks ago to include the option to abstain from voting. The resolution also included plans to present potential results to the board and request a discussion forum.
The purest way to represent students is to let them represent themselves through direct democracy
Bailey Miles, Senator for Academic Affairs, said in a written statement to the Senate.
Sponsors pointed to a recent controversial proposed board resolution to adopt a statement of expectations a written guideline for the role of trustees that was criticized for suppressing free speech. Trustees postponed discussing the resolution until later this month.
Sponsors also pointed to President Roderick McDavis' $85,000 pay raise, as well as the perceived failure of the Board to respond to student feedback, as reasons for the vote.
It is important that (students') voice be strongest now Aaron Lemley, Senator for the College of Communications said.
Other senators contended that a single question was inherently flawed. Senate President Michael Adeyanju said student approval of the board will never be so simple.
This is a black and white question
the issue is always going to be gray
Adeyanju said. The board is not always going to make decisions that everyone likes.
Shea and other sponsors said that the most important purpose of the vote would be student participation in democracy.
We need to give students a chance to speak for themselves
said Michaela Hahn-Lawson, Commissioner for Off Campus Life. None of us know what the outcome of this vote will be.
Opponents of the resolution said more information was needed to determine why students do or do not have confidence in the board's leadership.
It is irresponsible for this body to offer the issue to the student body in the form of just one question
Vice President Sally Neidhard said. She said student confidence should be determined through surveys and follow up.
This is simply a matter of democracy
Shea said, a way for students to give an opinion to the board that cannot be ignored.
A related resolution to add a question about students voting on student trustees was defeated in a 4-25 vote with three abstentions.
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