This year’s Undergraduate Student Government administration met for its last general assembly meeting of the year on Monday night, discussing an array of topics including USG elections, textbook costs, a tobacco free campus policy and sanctuary campus.
USG elections will be held online and will open on Thursday March 30 or Friday March 31. The link to vote will be sent out to all undergraduate students via a campus update email. Students will also receive emails on Monday, April 3 through Thursday, April 6 until they have voted.
Elections end Thursday, April 6 at noon and results will be announced Friday, April 7 at noon in the Union Nest.
For many months now, textbook cost has been a hot topic of discussion at the University. In Governor John Kasich’s recent state budget proposal, he included a proposed $300 fee to cover all textbook costs.
In response, USG has created a survey to better understand the actual costs of textbooks for students.
This survey is available at www.tinyurl.com/BGSUTextbookSurvey. USG is encouraging students to take this survey so that more accurate information about textbook costs can be acquired.
According to Vice President Richard Racette, the University administration is once again considering a tobacco free policy that would further limit the use and even possession of tobacco on campus.
The University considered this same policy last year, but it did not pass.
“In December of 2015, the last (USG) administration passed a resolution…that they formally opposed the tobacco free policy” after holding union tables and surveying students, Racette said.
USG was recently asked to prepare a statement once again stating its stance on the policy change proposal.
“This would be a chance for us to do something this year (about the proposal),” Racette said.
USG members took a closed ballot vote on the matter. With a vote of 18 in opposition of the proposed policy and six in support, USG will next draft a letter in opposition of the policy – similar to last year.
According to USG President Amanda Dortch, the University is one of the last in Ohio to adopt a tobacco free policy.
During last week’s meeting, Diversity Affairs Senator Bryce Davis introduced a resolution to urge President Mary Ellen Mazey to reconsider her lack of support for the creation of a sanctuary campus at the University.
During USG’s Monday meeting, the resolution was discussed at length and eventually tabled. It will be picked up by next year’s USG administration.
Concerns about the resolution were primarily focused on a lack of knowledge on what it means to be a sanctuary campus, and the implications that could arise if the University were to become a sanctuary campus.
After discussion, the USG body also tabled a resolution that would decrease the size of its general assembly from 49 members to 37 members.
Dortch gave her farewell regards at the end of the meeting, including noting the honor it has been to her to serve as USG president.
“Thank you for being dedicated, thank you for being committed,” Dortch said. “As we go into the upcoming administration I really hope that you all bring that same momentum, that same ambition, and take it further.”
