Senate supports OPIRG

No longer are senators the ones being endorsed. Lately, they've been doing the endorsing.

Amid dizzying debate of procedure, bylaws and precedent, Senate reached a consensus and voted 12-2 in favor of formally endorsing a voter registration coalition sponsored by Ohio Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG).

This marks the first time Senate has lent its name in support of another campus organization since the creation of the new constitution in the spring of 1997. The coalition includes the Sierra Student Coalition, Students United for Reproductive Freedom, Local Community Environmental Action, Oberlin College Democrats, the Oberlin Christian Fellowship and OPIRG.

The Oberlin Voter Registration Coalition's primary goal is to increase student voting and provide non-partisan information on state candidates and ballot issues. College junior Margaux Shields, chair of OPIRG, addressed Senate with her concerns about the lack of student voting. Shields requested Senate's support of OPIRG and the five other coalition members in registering Oberlin Students to vote.

Objections to the endorsement were made by senator junior Aaron Slodounik and senator junior Sam Taylor. "Once we take a stand we can't be a neutral body," Slodounik said. Slodounik opposed breaking the Senate's standing record of refusing endorsements in the name of neutrality. Taylor objected to the coalition on the grounds that it lacked diversity and forced Senate to be inconsistent with its past stated policies. Senator first-year Chris Anton also raised his concerns about the proposal. "We represent the entire Oberlin student body. Our endorsement is the endorsement of all Oberlin students. That cannot be given lightly."

However, the other Senators disagreed, citing the fact that Student Senate must be a body of outspoken leadership in order to remain a viable representative of Oberlin students. "I believe that Senate needs to take a stronger stand on this issue. We are not here to wait until other student groups join. We are here to initiate student involvement," said senator sophomore Micah Thorner. Thorner was joined in her sentiments by senator first-year Jesse Bloom. "As a political body we should support voter registration."

After several revisions and counter-proposals, Shields received Senate's endorsement. Shields' reaction to her meeting with Senate was mixed. "It was a confusing, frustrating, difficult process, but I am very happy with the result."

Senate also considered a proposal that would reassess its office hours. A task force consisting of Anton, senator junior Sarah Fineberg and Taylor was created in order to find a more productive, more efficient use of office hours.