As I sit down to write this I feel unsettled. This feeling comes from the recent response and behavior of some Student Senate members. During Wednesday’s meeting a large Jewish Bobcat population along with other students voiced their concerns about a video made by President Megan Marzec, which they believed to be offensive.
As I sit down to write this I feel unsettled. This feeling comes from the recent response and behavior of some Student Senate members. During Wednesday’s meeting a large Jewish Bobcat population along with other students voiced their concerns about a video made by President Megan Marzec, which they believed to be offensive. Sitting in Walter 235 I felt empathy for these students speaking out because the behavior of Student Senate members in the room made me uncomfortable as a student and member of the body. I connected with their struggles in having their voices respectfully heard. However I also felt a sense of disbelief in reaction to my peers. Many, though not all, of the Student Senate members reacted in ways that I feel are disrespectful to the students that they were elected to serve. There were times when they interrupted concerned students, snickered, and criticized students not participating in other student government activities.
In my opinion, the behavior of Student Senate on Wednesday makes them unapproachable to students on this campus. Students will not be inclined to come to meetings where they feel stifled and disrespected. There may have been some students that came to speak out on Wednesday that did want to contribute to student government, but they are now angry and afraid because of the statements coming from their peers. Some of these students may agree with the action and work of Student Senate, but will not support these notions because of how their peers were treated. (And honestly, I would not blame them.) This is not a friendly and inviting atmosphere; rather it turns off students from participating in student government. In fact this atmosphere makes Student Senate appear exclusive and intolerable to students and their concerns.
I’m disappointed with the actions and comments made by some Student Senate members during Wednesday’s meeting, and I urge them to apologize to the students who came to Student SpeakOUt. I also urge Senate members to be more respectful to students that come out and speak in future meetings. With that, I encourage students to come speak to their elected student government every Wednesday at 7:15 in Walter 235.
Gabrielle Bacha is a student at Ohio University.
