Student Senate punts when it comes to taking clear stand on student trustee voting rights

Given the opportunity Wednesday evening to support or oppose state legislation to give student university trustees voting power, Ohio University Student Senate failed to come to a clear position.

During the meeting, OU's two student trustees suggested they don't feel an overriding need to vote on the Board of Trustees. "I've never had an opportunity or instance where I've felt like I needed to vote," said Student Trustee Danielle Parker, a junior studying public relations.

The discussion arose after two student senators, State and Federal Affairs Commissioner Taylor Abbot and Ohio Student Government Association delegate Stephanie Stark, reviewed the pros and cons of proposed House Bill 377, and then urged Student Senate to take a unified stand on the legislation.

The bipartisan bill, introduced by Ohio Reps. Mike Duffey, R-Worthington, and Michael Stinziano, D-Columbus, would give student trustees voting rights on their respective university board of trustees.

If Student Senate passes a resolution either in favor or opposition to the student trustee voting rights bill, Abbott and Stark said they will present that stance to the OU administration and state Legislature.

They noted that a big advantage of the bill is that it would grants students a direct impact on issues that affect the university, as well as access to Board of Trustee executive (closed-door) sessions.

"If other student trustees at other schools are being overlooked and ignored by their board, then maybe this will be a good thing for them to have, a voting right," said Abbott.

Some disadvantages to HB 377, they added, include students' lack of experience in areas such as large-scale budget planning and the possibility that trustees might feel pressure from professors.

"[Professors] could use some sort of discrimination in the classroom against you for voting a certain way," said Abbott.

Though Abbott suggested drafting a formal resolution about the issue as early as next week, student senators did not voice a clear stance regarding voting rights for student trustees.

Current Student Trustee Allison Arnold, a junior studying public relations, acknowledged that she has changed her position on voting rights for student trustees. Previously in favor of voting power, Arnold said she now opposed the idea because she feels that her voice is already being heard at the university.

Parker also questioned the necessity of students having a vote on OU's trustee board.

"I've never had an opportunity or instance where I've felt like I needed to vote," she said. "I am not one of those people that thinks student trustees couldn't handle a vote," she added. "I am not completely against it... Have I felt it was necessary? No. But that's not the experience of all the trustees throughout the state."

Student Senate President Kyle Tripplet used his past experience as a student trustee to speak about voting rights for trustees, though he didn't come down on side or the other.

"As a trustee, I'm appointed by the government and also have the unique responsibility of representing students," Tripplett said. "You have two roles to fulfill...You either side with the university and pay the bills and our faculty salaries, or side with the 30,000 students who say they're not paying a dime more for tuition."

Parker's experience has led her to a similar conclusion. "Before you become a student trustee, the perspective that you have is completely different than once you actually get the position," she said.

HB 377 is still pending in the Ohio Legislature.