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General Ohio University Discussion/Alumni Events

Topic: RE: Student Senate

Topic: RE: Student Senate

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Ohio69
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 2,992

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/10/2014 6:51:15 PM

Meh - Students shouldn't be on the board at all and shouldn't vote.

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,023

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/10/2014 7:51:28 PM

Ohio69 wrote:

Meh - Students shouldn't be on the board at all and shouldn't vote.

Need an explanation my good friend. From my experience, university boards of trustees are very similar to corporate boards - friends of the family or the band. They simply listen, politely nod and vote the way they are directed. Are students with voting rights on the board the answer? That's up for debate but anything better than the present system would serve the tax payers of Ohio and the students at public colleges better.

Last Edited: 8/10/2014 9:27:45 PM by Alan Swank

Ohio69
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 2,992

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/10/2014 11:07:31 PM

Is there any industry that adds 20 year olds with no college degree and no in depth work experience to their boards? Honestly, I don't even understand the argument that a student needs to be a voting member of the board at all. Find me the smartest, most experienced and dedicated people you can for the board.

Not sure I understand the dissatisfaction with higher education in Ohio. With schools like Ohio, Kent State, Cincinnati, Miami, and OSU, Ohio is very well served right now.

Last Edited: 8/10/2014 11:15:19 PM by Ohio69

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

JSF
General User

Member Since: 1/29/2005
Location: Houston, TX
Post Count: 6,341

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/11/2014 2:01:10 AM

It's rather disheartening you take such an anti-democratic stance here. Colleges need students even more than students need college. Considering how little time trustees actually spend on campus and how much their finger is not on the pulse of students, it's vital students have a meaningful role in how policy is shaped. Should they constitute the majority of power? Probably not, but to not even give them a seat at the table only weakens the university.

"Loyalty to a hometown or city is fleeting and interchangeable, but college is a stamp of identity."- Kyle Whelliston, One Beautiful Season.

My blog about depression and mental illness: https://bit.ly/3buGXH8

Ohio69
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 2,992

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/11/2014 8:52:47 AM

JSF wrote:

There's plenty of people who can keep the trustees informed and up to date, including students themselves. You don't need to be on the board to do that. Also, this idea that trustees are clueless is strange to me. These people take their positions very seriously. And, give up a lot of their time serving the university. And, its a thankless job. I bet Bob Walter never knew how dumb he was until he was appointed to the Board at Ohio University.

The great people of the state of Ohio have decided (rather democratically I might add) that the Governor appoints Board Members and Board Members hire presidents and presidents and Board Members hire executives and those folks run universities. Like I said previously, this is still working rather well at many universities in Ohio.

Not implementing your or my specific ideas doesn't meant they are dumb and out of touch. I don't agree with everything the university does. But, this place and several others in Ohio seem to be doing quite well.

Will the cost involved eventually destroy the traditional college industry? Maybe. Maybe not. Right now consumers are still lining up. And requesting a country-club type experience that drives costs up as well. I hope it survives in its current state. Kids sitting in their parents basements getting lectured to by a talking head on a computer doesn't seem like a winning formula to me. But, that's just my crazy opinion.

Last Edited: 8/11/2014 8:53:23 AM by Ohio69

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

BillyTheCat
General User

Member Since: 10/6/2012
Post Count: 9,478

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/11/2014 9:07:46 AM

Ohio has the highest cost of state schools in America, this is a problem! One of the greatest roadblocks our youth are facing is the spiraling out of control cost and massive debt. These kids need a voice, and there is NO reason Ohio should lead the nation in this cataegory!

Ohio69
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 2,992

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/11/2014 9:54:23 AM

BillyTheCat wrote:

Isn't this largely due to the state lowering its subsidization of higher education? A seat on the Board won't change that.

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

BillyTheCat
General User

Member Since: 10/6/2012
Post Count: 9,478

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/11/2014 10:12:35 AM

Ohio69 wrote:

BillyTheCat wrote:

Isn't this largely due to the state lowering its subsidization of higher education? A seat on the Board won't change that.

Many factors figure into this, but yes that would be a large contributor. At this rate it is becoming cheaper for some of our residents to leave the state for college.

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,023

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/11/2014 5:10:20 PM

Ohio69 wrote:

If that were true we wouldn't have folks like that trustee several years ago who explained away the tuition increase by saying that students might just have to forgo an expensive pair of jeans or two. We wouldn't have trustees like the trustee who oversaw the Columbus school system for years and now claims she didn't know a thing about the data scrubbing. Many, not all, trustee appointments are for political and financial loyalty as opposed to true merit and service.

Ohio69
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 2,992

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/11/2014 7:40:31 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

Ohio69 wrote:

Yeah, the jeans comment was unfortunate. (If only she had used a different example.) You are correct that not all board members a what I bolded above. But, I'd say most are. Look, I'm not expert. Just throwing up my opinion like anyone else.

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,023

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/21/2014 1:58:48 PM

Well it's started. According to an article in today's messenger, the president of senate asked for three minutes of time during Sunday's freshman convocation to welcome the class of 2018 to OU. Request denied. For some reason, I can't get a link to the article to post but it's there if you can access it. Seems that this used to be a regular part of the convocation but over the last 5 to 7 years it's disappeared or been replaced by a contest to chose the speaker. One would think that the elected head of the student governement would automatically be scheduled as a part of this annual welcome.

catfan28
General User

Member Since: 6/11/2011
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 1,503

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/21/2014 9:04:45 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

That whole thing is much ado about nothing. It's crazy that the so called local "media" even makes it a story! The student senate president hasn't spoken at the convocation for years. Not sure why they ignore this fact?? Just trying to make a story, I suppose.

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,023

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/22/2014 9:56:42 AM

catfan28 wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

I would respectfully disagree. This isn't really about the 3 minutes of requested speech time, it's about the legitimacy of a duly elected student to the most important elected student position at a college or university. It's also about another opinion as opposed to a rubber stamp. If you remember, just a couple years ago the administration cited the opionion of a student leader in this exact same position as justification for using student fees for the multipurpose facility. If that opinion carries so much wait when it suits the powers that be perhaps it should care as much wait in matters that don't.

OUs LONG Driver
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Copley, OH
Post Count: 653

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/22/2014 10:39:17 AM

I know just about zero about Student Senate, but my question is how many people actually vote in the election? The feeling I got while in college is that the person with the biggest group of friends or most catchy slogan could win the election based on literally nothing other than that. I did not seek out information on candidates or vote in the elections so I may be way off here but I would be shocked if a majority of the student body participates in the vote. My guess is its less than 10% perhaps even significantly lower. Is that really duly elected? Do they really represent the majority of the student body? Without knowing the real numbers I have my doubts.

I prefer a group of business professionals handle the business of the university instead of a 22 year old student with little or zero real world experience. I certainly think they have the right to have their voice heard but I prefer they not own a potential tie breaking vote on a serious issue. Denying them the chance to speak to incoming students seems ridiculous though. What harm could come of someone who presumably sets a good example for students to speak to their newest classmates?

Last Edited: 8/22/2014 10:42:00 AM by OUs LONG Driver

Bobcatbob
General User

Member Since: 12/21/2004
Location: Coolville, OH
Post Count: 1,341

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/22/2014 3:38:29 PM

All I can think about when I read this stuff is how incredibly naive I was in college while speaking with great conviction on subjects I knew next to nothing about. And how I hope no tapes of these activities exist today.

I'm very glad someone recognized my right to be heard but I sure hope they weren't listening.

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,023

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/22/2014 4:11:15 PM

Bobcatbob wrote:

Now many of us claim to know a great deal about various subjects but few have the courage to speak with conviction. I'll take the former rather than the latter any day if the week.

RSBobcat
General User

Member Since: 8/22/2010
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 4,401

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/23/2014 1:06:14 AM

Alan Swank wrote:

Bobcatbob wrote:

Now many of us claim to know a great deal about various subjects but few have the courage to speak with conviction. I'll take the former rather than the latter any day if the week.

^ What he said............

RS Bobcat

BillyTheCat
General User

Member Since: 10/6/2012
Post Count: 9,478

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/23/2014 2:28:43 AM

Alan Swank wrote:

Ohio69 wrote:

This goes right back to the original topic. I'd like to ask the Board of Trustee member on this board, how you can expect to get a vote for the Student voice when they are not even allowed to address the freshmen class for 3 minutes. Is this what a represenitive body stands for.

The Optimist
General User

Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,552

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/24/2014 1:05:51 AM

Regarding 'how many people vote' I think a fair amount do vote now because it is literally as easy as "go to this website, put in your student ID, pick the dropdown boxes and hit submit"

Registering to post on bobcatattack takes more effort than voting in these elections.

...

IMO, very cliquey and I viewed it as nothing more than a resume stuffer for many involved. I got the feel people just voted down the line for a party based on which side they had more friends on.

I am 100% convinced that if a student went on youtube and announced he was running on a platform of "I won't send my minions to hand out fliers to you while you walk to class through college gate/baker center" that student could win the election in the landside.

Seriously. I don't want your papers telling me to vote for you. Leave me alone/don't assualt me walking through Baker Center.

Last Edited: 8/24/2014 1:11:49 AM by The Optimist

I've seen crazier things happen.

catfan28
General User

Member Since: 6/11/2011
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 1,503

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/25/2014 11:46:19 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

But you're missing the issue. The student senate president doesn't speak at the Convocation. And that includes the "rubber stamp" types you refer to. None of them have been involved with it before. So the fact that the convocation goes the same way it has for 10+ years doesn't strike me as news. It also doesn't mean anyone sees the new president as being "illegitimate".

To think of an analogy, imagine if Jim Schaus asked to speak at graduation. The AD has never had a speaking role there before. Would denying that request also strike you as strange or a slap in the face? It's the same thing.

Now if the senate president traditionally spoke at the Convocation my opinion would be completely different. But I don't see anything noteworthy here. It's small-town media trying to make news by what amounts to lying in the headlines. Town-gown relations have been so peachy lately (best I've seen in 30+ years here) I guess they have to make something up.

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,023

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/28/2014 6:13:18 PM

catfan28 wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

I keep coming back to this and still fail to see the logic in your argument. The convocation was for incoming students - the student senate president is the elected representative of those students - in the past the president has spoken at this convocation - the current president asked to speak and was denied. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

As for the AD speaking at graduation, there is no logical connection there at all. Regardless, it's fun to watch an activist group of students even if they are young and naive. Sometimes the locks on city hall need to be rattled a bit.

http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-43089-student-senate-leaders-plan-to-steer-new-course-this-year.html

Ohio69
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 2,992

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/29/2014 11:45:37 AM

Alan Swank wrote:

.....Regardless, it's fun to watch an activist group of students even if they are young and naive. Sometimes the locks on city hall need to be rattled a bit.....

Get your popcorn ready. These kids seem to be bent on "sticking it to the man" this year.

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,023

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/30/2014 9:11:01 AM

Ohio69 wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

.....Regardless, it's fun to watch an activist group of students even if they are young and naive. Sometimes the locks on city hall need to be rattled a bit.....

Get your popcorn ready. These kids seem to be bent on "sticking it to the man" this year.

And here's the ammunition they needed:

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/08/29/...

Last Edited: 8/30/2014 9:11:19 AM by Alan Swank

Ryan Carey
Site Programmer

Member Since: 11/11/2004
Post Count: 948

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/30/2014 9:56:05 AM

Good for President McDavis. Well deserved.

Ryan M. Carey
BBA 2001

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,023

Status: Offline

RE: Student Senate

Posted: 8/30/2014 10:58:46 AM

Ryan Carey wrote:

Good for President McDavis. Well deserved.

It will be interesting to see if your tune changes when you start to pay tuition for the three kids in your avatar.

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