Ohio University’s Student Senate passed a bill at its Wednesday meeting to approve the creation of a student veterans lounge.
The lounge would be a safe space for student veterans, allowing them to congregate, seek academic support services and complete assigned coursework.
It would be exclusive to student veterans since ROTC students already have their own facility. The lounge would be located near the Veterans and Military Programs and Services Center, located in Baker Center, and other student organizations.
The location for the veterans lounge has not been finalized, but members discussed a potential location at Bromley Hall.
Chief Robert Rymer of the Athens Fire Department gave a presentation on the role of AFD in Athens and how they are planning on building a new department in the future.
According to statistics taken in 1997, a third fire department was supposed to be built in 2001. Due to lack of financial means, AFD was unable to build it.
Rymer also mentioned establishing a fire safety training course for incoming freshmen. Training would take place on a location on campus, and students would pay a $50 fee for Fall and Spring semesters. These funds would help support AFD in its goal to build a new fire department building and the hiring of new firefighters.
“I would like to see students come by every week for fire safety training, first aid and tips, so they would be able to utilize that knowledge when they go home,” Rymer said. “We keep doing this, and other colleges will be looking to us to set the bar for relationships between local fire departments and the students they serve.”
Two other presentations were from Sam Tornow, Senate’s director of public relations, and Lydia Ramlo, the treasurer.
Tornow presented the Student Senate PR report, highlighting the positives responses towards Student Senate through various social media platforms.
In her presentation, Ramlo discussed Student Senate’s budget from the Fall Semester, including events, food, office supplies and other budgeted items.
Student Senate members also passed three other resolutions at the meeting.
Members passed a resolution to update the rules and procedures of the Judicial Panel. The appeal process for the removal of a senator was not adequately outlined and did not establish appropriate time frames for the process. The resolution would update the rules and procedures to reflect the changes discussed by members of the Judicial Panel.
Brogan Speraw was appointed as a senator for the Off Campus Commission for the remainder of the academic year. Jon Schlosser and Danielle Klein were also appointed to serve on the Student Trustee Selection Committee.
