The final five candidates who will interview with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s staff for the student trustee position were announced during Wednesday’s Ohio University Student Senate meeting.
The candidates are Ellen Gill-Franks, a freshman studying English-pre law, criminology and sociology; Levi Toback, a first-year student in the clinical psychology doctoral program; Justin Kelley, a sophomore studying accounting; Adam Boesinger, a sophomore studying marketing and economics; and Daniel Warmke, a graduate student studying media arts and studies.
“This was a really hard decision to even get from eight to five,” Student Senate Vice President Hannah Burke said. Burke is a member of the Post Publishing Board.
The decision was made after a Feb. 21 town hall with all eight candidates. The town hall gave the opportunity for the student trustee candidates to talk about what they would do in the position and some of their qualifications.
The final student trustee decision will be announced during the Leadership Awards Gala on April 17.
Student Senate also heard a presentation from Gwyn Scott, associate vice president for Auxiliaries. Scott came to follow up on a previous presentation Student Senate heard from President of Culinary Services Dillon Barnhouse.
During Barnhouse’s presentation, he said there have been complaints from student chefs who do not get compensated the same as regular kitchen chefs. Scott welcomed the opportunity for Student Senate members to ask any additional questions they have about Culinary Services at OU.
The logistics of Culinary Services’ point system for workers was also discussed. Culinary staff members get points for doing good work, such as picking up extra shifts; points can be taken away if workers miss a shift. The points are an incentive, as workers with a high number of points can get bonuses, Scott said.
One of the biggest concerns that Scott wanted to clarify was about an ROTC culinary worker who has gotten “strikes” for missing work for ROTC events.
“I think there are opportunities for us to fact check any situation,” Scott said. “I most challenge the fact that (the ROTC situation) has been criticized.”
Scott said Culinary Services had not been notified that a worker was in ROTC. As a result, strikes might have been issued. The worker has not come forward yet; Scott encourages the worker to come forward or give their name in order to resolve the situation.
Seven resolutions were passed at the meeting.
One resolution covers the cost of a Pride Day drag show, which would cost about $430. Another resolution paid for candy used at the Ohio Birthday Bash table, which costs about $8. Money for an International Women’s Day banner was also approved that will cost about $15. The last resolution passed was for the purchase of office supplies, which costs $35.
Three resolutions passed for new appointments. Alex Ruttmann was appointed to serve on the Senate Appropriations Commission. Collin Phillips was appointed as a senator for College of Arts and Sciences. Commissioner Clancy Thomas will serve as the Commission Chair for the Members Emeriti and Senior Honor Status Committee.
