Student Senate has two resolutions up for a vote this week, one of which is about campaign reform
Last week, Ohio University Student Senate passed a resolution that shortened senate’s campaign season from 24 days to just 14 days. Senate has a resolution up for a vote this week that would further changes to annual spring campaign season.
The resolution would allow for a “passive campaign period” that would allow candidates to passively campaign 16 days before the 14 day campaign season starts.
Passive campaigning would allow candidates to announce their candidacy, launch a website with information about the platform of a ticket or independent candidate, and participate in Board of Elections sanctioned debates.
During the passive campaign period, candidates would be allowed to answer questions from students if they are approached, but candidates would not be allowed to canvas, table, make chalk drawings on sidewalks, host public events, or hang fliers or banners, according to the resolution.
The resolution is sponsored by Jordan Kelley, West Green senator.
Another resolution up for a vote Wednesday night would allow members of senate’s rules and procedure to make grammatical changes and clarifications to senate’s rules. There would be no content changes and all the edits would be available to the public, Caitlyn McDaniel, senate’s vice president, said.
Senate will make the rules and procedures available in a Google document on their website.
“That way it’s publically available to folks,” McDaniel said, adding that she would like for students to review the changes and make notes in the document for senate members to see.
Once all the changes have been made, senate members will have a month to voice any concerns about the changes. Changes can be recalled with a two-thirds vote from the body, McDaniel said.
@MariaDeVito13
md781510@ohio.edu
