In a close vote, Ohio University Student Senate members passed a bill endorsing Ohio Issue 1 at its general body meeting Wednesday.
After debate between Senate members, the bill passed with 23 votes for the bill, 20 against and 2 abstentions.
Issue 1 is a drug and criminal justice policies initiative that was created to reclassify both fourth- and fifth-level felony drug charges as misdemeanors. It would also reduce the percentage of Ohioans incarcerated for drug charges.
The issue also focuses on the ability to place the persons who are penalized with these charges into rehab and allow them to get the help and treatment for recovery and addiction.
Rachael Ridout, an at-large senator, said she is passionate about the bill that passed and thinks it can be a start to making a change.
“Let’s get people into treatment and let's give them the resources to go to treatment, because that is what is going to make them better,” Ridout said.
In addition to the passage of the bill, Ohio University Police Department Chief Andrew Powers gave a presentation about how the OU students can help prevent sexual assault by working to change rape culture. Students can do this by stepping up against the culture, Powers said.
Powers also spoke to Senate members about Halloween festivities this weekend, saying that police will be brought in from around the state to help.
Five resolutions were also passed to appoint senators and members of the Judicial Panel.
Sam Carryer was appointed as the senator for Senate Appropriations Commission, filling the position that Anna Ayers resigned from Oct. 16, according to a previous Post report.
Ayers resigned after she was charged with three counts of making false alarms. Ayers had reported that she received three threatening messages against her life, but a subsequent OUPD investigation found that Ayers placed the messages herself prior to reporting them. She pleaded not guilty to all three charges on Oct. 17 and is set to appear in court at a later date.
In addition, Mason Link was appointed as justice of the Judicial Panel, and Brooke Robinson was appointed as the Eastern campus senator.
Walter Milhoan, previously the clerk of court for the panel, was appointed as chief of justice of the Judicial Panel. He replaces Matthew Thomas, who resigned earlier this week due to personal issues.
To fill the vacancy left by Milhoan, Shae Woodburn — previously the assistant clerk of court — was promoted to clerk of court.
