On March 27th
The Post
asked students what issues they would like to see Student Senate candidates focus on during their campaigns. The answers, provided by Streetview, ranged in variety. One student replied that she want to see Student Senate transform its image. Another spoke of extended dining hall hours. Another student mentioned information pertaining to fests. One student expressed that he would like to see Flex Points available at Uptown locations. And finally a student said she wanted to see issues about parking be remedied. With that said, let's look to the platform of ONE, and the current efforts of Student Senate.
The platform for ONE directly addresses the image of Student Senate. ONE wants to ensure carryout of resolutions passed by the body. ONE also wants to increase student involvement and voice by offering more voting positions on Student Senate. This year 25 percent of ONE's ticket members are brand new. So while, yes, 75 percent have been in senate, many of these members are still growing and learning to better advocate for students in their experience here at Ohio University.
To the student who spoke of extended dining hall hours, we can advocate for you through the Culinary Services Development Committee. And, if you wish, we will invite you to join us. Education pertaining to fests is something we worked on this year. With the help of SDS and Off-Campus Life, we went door-to-door trying to educate students about fest safety.
Furthermore, we can take these efforts straight to the residence halls in the future. The ONE platform directly addresses Bobcat Cash being used uptown, a step toward being able to use Flex Points at these locations. Currently, Jordan Ballinger is taking on the issue of parking in Uptown and can easily extend these efforts to campus. ONE has the experience to continue working on student issues and the willingness to take on new student concerns.
To these five students, and likely to more students like them, these are issues that matter. These are issues that are important to them. It cannot be denied that this campus faces other large issues, like tuition, which are also of student concern. But it also cannot be denied that there are other issues, there are other problems. These cannot be ignored, and ONE is not ignoring them. Maybe students have seen more “Restart” on this campus (according to a previous Streetview), but it is evident that ONE is a more representative and responsive voice to a variety of student concerns.
Gabrielle Bacha is a sophomore studying political science and a candidate for South Green senator on the ONE ticket.
