Student Senate passes bill supporting Council of Governments for waste management
The Ohio University Student Senate passed a bill in support of establishing a Council of Governments for waste management in Athens at their meeting on Wednesday night. The Senate also made several announcements for upcoming events.
The topic of waste management has sparked controversy in the past during Athens City Council meetings as the city attempts to navigate cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability. The city of Athens established a contract with Rumpke, replacing their former contract with the Athens-Hocking Recycling Center (AHRC).
Athens City Council opted to work with Rumpke for waste collection due to the lower cost, rather than working with AHRC, a non-profit waste collection organization and recycling center. Cities, townships, and counties often opt for a franchise system of waste collection due to the cost-effectiveness and other issues such as sanitation and traffic. However, the bill put forward by Environmental Affairs Commissioner Caden Hibbs argues that a profit-driven form of waste management would increase the waste concentration in landfills and greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the bill, Rumpke has a history of buying out local hauling organizations and raising their rates in future contracts, eliminating local competition.
The bill states the Senate’s support of the creation of a non-profit Council of Governments for the Southeast Ohio area between the city of Athens and the Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District. This Council of Governments would be a collaborative, regional approach to waste removal. It would be similar to the Buckeye Hills Regional Council or the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC), as municipalities or other governmental subdivisions can come together for a common purpose according to their waste collection needs. Municipalities united as a single entity could pursue better financial deals for waste management and maintain local voices and control.
Hibbs also called attention to the fact that AHRC employs members of the community as a local non-profit, but has had to lay off multiple workers due to their lack of funds following the termination of their contract with the city of Athens. Hibbs suggested that Rumpke would likely outsource these jobs.
“It is permanent Athens residents that will suffer as a result of increased rate hikes that Rumpke will implement once it takes over as the only waste management company in Athens,” Hibbs said. “Athens is a vibrant local community that should not be driven out of jobs due to corporate greed.”
A copy of the Senate’s bill was sent to numerous entities including Mayor Patterson, Athens City Council, and university administration for their consideration.
In other business:
Dr. Paul Castelino, the Director of Ohio U’s Counseling and Psychological Services, presented to the senate about the resources available for students’ mental health and wellbeing. More information can be found here.
The Senate passed a resolution to purchase laundry detergent Eco-Sheets with the intention to distribute the environmentally-friendly alternative to normal detergent to residence halls across campus.
Governmental Affairs Senator Donald Theisen put forward a bill in support of the passage of Ohio House Bill 27, a bipartisan bill that would require state institutions of higher education to provide financial cost and aid disclosure forms, ensuring the financial transparency of state universities. House Bill 27 received overwhelming support from the Governmental Affairs Commission, emphazing it’s bipartisan nature, and Senate passed their bill in support.
The Academic Affairs Commision will be hosting a craft night on Thursday, April 25 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a movie night on Friday, April 26 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The Governmental Affairs Commission is hosting a “Pizza, Not Politics” event on Wednesday, March 6 at 5 p.m. in Baker 240/242.
Women’s Fest will take place on Thursday, March 7 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Walter Rotunda.
The Women’s Affairs Commission will be tabling at a Period Party on Feb. 22.
For Pride Week, the LGBTQIA+ Commission is hosting a drag tea party on March 19 at 2 p.m. and a comedy drag show on March 22 at 7 p.m. in Baker Theatre.
International Week will take place the first week in April.
Senator Aidan Kirk conducted a survey about whether students feel that the price of laundry should be reduced. Out of 130 participants, 98% said yes.
There will be a wellbeing goodie-bag event on Feb. 28.
The Senate appointed Ayshni Tandon as Minority Affairs Vice Commissioner.
The Senate appointed Taras Tarasun as International Affairs Senator.
The “Centering Black Artists” exhibition is being hosted by the Kennedy Museum at the Ridges. There will be guided tours on Feb. 15 and 22 from 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Dr. Brian Stephens, Assistant Professor of African American Studies, will host a Gallery Talk on “Blackness On the Run: Glenn Ligon’s Runaway Series” on Feb. 29 at 5:15 p.m.
The Heroes in Color film series at the Athena Cinema will be showing Everything, Everywhere, All at Once on Feb. 15, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Feb. 22, and The Last Dragon on Feb. 29. The films start at 7:30 with pre-show activities beginning at 7 p.m.
The meeting took place on Valentine’s Day, and Dean of Students Kathy Fahl took time to remind those in attendance of Ohio U’s Survivor Advocacy Program which provides confidential resources for people in unsafe situations.
