Student Senate proposes three resolutions, including one addressing OUSAP and another changing the name of the Greek Life Senator.
Ohio University Student Senate will join the campus-wide conversation that students and administrators are having concerning the state of OU's Survivor Advocacy Program at its meeting Wednesday.
At the meeting, senate will vote on a resolution to support OUSAP and recognize the need for its services.
“The reality is that those who are suffering the most through this process are survivors on campus and that, as members of student senate, we recognize the necessity of services provided by OUSAP, its staff, and volunteers,” the resolution reads.
Jordan Kelley, Student Senate university life commissioner and a junior studying student development, sponsored the resolution and said he thinks it has the potential to make a difference if approved.
“I am optimistic that it will be approved. There isn't anything super radical in it,” Kelley said. “It’s really just asking for some pretty basic things so that the survivors on our campus needs are being met.”
If the resolution is passed, the body would request that the university close SAP until OU hires a professional, non-mandated reporter, refers all student and survivors to Counseling and Psychological Services and increases transparency when appointing an interim-director for the program.
Charlotte Klimovich, senate appropriations commissioner and a junior studying biological science, also sponsored the resolution and said SAP is a very important resource.
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“I was honestly very shocked that SAP was being changed from its original purpose especially after we just saw The Hunting Ground video where OU was like ‘yeah, SAP is a really big priority,’” Klimovich said.
In addition, a resolution to change the name of the “Greek Life Senator” to the “Sorority and Fraternity Life Senator" will be voted on at the meeting.
This resolution supports OU's Sorority and Fraternity Life Office in its recent change referring to "Greek life" as sorority and fraternity life. The office made this decision due to issues of perception and confusion, according to the resolution.
Furthermore, a resolution to appoint a president pro tempore will be presented to the body.
Senate members will also hear presentations from Athletic Director Jim Schaus, OU student Ryan Carrigan, who is helping run Aaron Dauterman’s city council campaign, and Jared Ohnsman, the vice president of senate.
Hannah Clouser, Student Senate treasurer, said the presentations could include discussion on any of the resolutions.
“It’ll be a pretty typical meeting,” Clouser, a junior studying actuarial science, said. “The biggest thing, I think, is the resolution for the Survivor Advocacy Program.”
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