It’s a new quarter and a new school year, meaning a new Student Senate has taken office and our expectations are running high. We think this year’s senate is uniquely capable of representing the students in a way that past iterations haven’t.
Senate has already taken steps in the right direction to ensure its constituents are being taken care of. So far, it’s clear they have proved that they are here to serve the students first.
Already Student Senate has embraced the student body and student organizations in a positive manner. It has taken steps in the right direction by actively pursuing what students want, expect and need. It’s reached out to students and organization with the newly created Student Spotlight—commending student leaders and organizations for their hard work on campus.
Senate is also directly involved with the up-and-coming Baker University Center’s lower lounge. Since Spring Quarter, Student Senate actively pushed for the Baker Center lounge to focus on being student-friendly.
To maintain this image, senate needs to keep making strides in the right direction. Like previous editorial boards before ours, we won’t be shy when we think Student Senate needs to step up and do a better job.
As we look forward into the school year we have a few suggestions we would like to see senate address this year.
Lighting seems to be a practical fix to the eminent problem of campus safety at OU on both on- and off-campus streets. The newly reconstructed Richland Avenue bridge is lined with sufficient lighting, but lighting on streets such as Mill, Congress and Oak is sparse and poor. There is no sense of security or safety for students walking back to their homes. Lighting could deter sexual assaults and reduce the crime rate both on and off campus. We implore the senate to advocate for a more pro-active approach from university and city leaders when it comes to keeping students safe each night.
Second, Student Senate needs to use its access to OU administrators wisely, keeping in mind who they are representing. Not every student has consistent, direct audience with OU decision makers. If Student Senate wants to properly represent its constituents, we think the body should publicize in advance when it is meeting with a major OU administrator — such as President Roderick McDavis or Director of Athletics Jim Schaus — and solicit questions or concerns from the student body to take with them to these meetings. By doing so, senate would be providing students with yet another line of communication to the powers that be.
We challenge this year’s Student Senate members to maintain their relationships with the students and strive to represent them fairly. If a senate falls out of touch with the students it represents, it loses its legitimacy — and that’s not something we want to see happen to this group.
This set of senators stormed into office into convincing fashion last spring. Hopefully the body is able to maintain that momentum and harvest it for the betterment of the student body.
