In 2012 I helped found an organization called the Ohio Student Association. We engage in values-based issue and electoral organizing, advocacy for progressive public policy, and leadership development. We believe that every child in Ohio has the right to quality public education from kindergarten through college. Our vision of educational justice has led us to organize to make college more affordable, advocate for need-based financial aid, and tackle the issue of student debt in Ohio.
Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many of the leaders of the OU Restart party, including Megan Marzec, their presidential candidate. I worked side by side with Megan to register young people to vote in Athens before the 2012 elections. I was impressed not only by her dedication and work ethic, but her passion for student power and student rights. Megan and Restart’s commitment to justice is so strong that they are not only advocating for a change in leadership of the student government, but also a change in structure. Restart has faith in the ability of students to make decisions about their own lives through open voting and participatory budgeting. They support student workers and oppose tuition increases, which hurt so many disadvantaged students across the state.
The Restart ticket has my attention and the attention of other young leaders across the state. I’m sure that Ohio University is very proud to have produced such innovative young advocates who are taking it upon themselves to increase student involvement at OU. If Restart wins, student governments around Ohio will surely be paying close attention. Their open, participatory model and their focus on student advocacy could be adopted by other student governments around the state. I hope to have the opportunity to work with Restart to make college more affordable in Ohio, and to bring students to the center of decision-making in our universities. Restart has my support, and the support of the Ohio Student Association. I hope they have yours.
Stuart McIntyre is the executive director of the Ohio Student Association.
