Student Senate holds first debate ahead of April 4 election

Editor’s Note: This story has been edited to correct the spelling of Arthur Bargainer’s last name.

In last night's first Student Senate executive debate in four years, candidates on three separate tickets discussed a range of topics including the candidate's qualifications and their proposed goals.

Current Treasurer Trinity Robinson was first to speak about why she should be elected president, noting her personal dedication to advocacy for students. 

Academic Affairs Commissioner of Student Senate Dylan DeMonte, running alongside Robinson as a vice president candidate, used his introduction to talk about his past accomplishments as part of Student Senate. DeMonte hopes to continue his focus on communication between students and administration, from accessibility offices to advisors. 

Arthur Bargainer, running on Robinson’s ticket for treasurer, spoke about the need to help student organizations financially. The three candidates named their ticket “Empower Ohio.”

Women’s Affair Commissioner Megan Handle, who is also running for president, spoke about her social work background and her efforts to put free period products in all Ohio U restrooms by 2028.

“I have a passion for seeing senate do more things like this and reaching out to the student body, and collabing with different organizations and hopefully working more with my graduate students,” Handle said.

Isaac Davis, who is running alongside Handle for vice president, used his introduction to emphasize his ambition to serve the University and his work on the SOAR campaign. SOAR has a designated focus on safety, opportunity, accessibility and rights, according to Davis

Clay Lewis, who is currently the University Life Commissioner within senate, is running for president, alongside vice president candidate and current Governmental Affairs Commissioner Dan Gordillo.

Lewis discussed the need for change at Ohio U after the past two years of racially motivated attacks during his introduction. Lewis mentioned that students have been voicing their thoughts in the many protests and marches and that he is ready to see the needed changes.

Gordillo spoke about his experience and why that makes him most qualified to serve as vice president. He said that he hopes to amplify the voices of senate and students. 

Treasurer candidate Reagan Farmer, current university life senator for athletics, spoke about the need to incorporate student athletes in decisions made by senate.  Farmer’s goal as an executive member of senate is to integrate students into the decision-making processes of senate and utilize senate funds in favor of student endeavors. 

When the vice president candidates stood up to discuss their candidacies, the first question  proposed to the candidates was what interested them in the position. 

“I feel like this position really is an opportunity to serve this university and really make a difference and impact and improve students' lives,” Davis said. “By the time I graduate, I want people to feel like their lives have been improved in their ability to carry out their academic organization obligations are made a little bit easier by the efforts that we were doing.” 

Gordillo explained that if he is elected vice president he views it as an opportunity to decentralize Student Senate and to lift the voices of commissioners.

DeMonte decided to run for vice president to advocate for students rights.

“I have the opportunity to jump in and help to make this organization a major vehicle for student advocacy on campus. I think it makes me a better advocate in general and that's what I want to do for the rest of my life. So why not take the opportunity now?” DeMonte said.

When the presidential candidates got up to speak they discussed their previous leadership experience and why they are qualified to serve.

“I am the treasurer of the Black Student Union and a College of Business ambassador, but the biggest benefit that I have gained from all of my leadership opportunities has been able to not only diversify, who I'm able to reach, to talk to, but also be able to realize the opportunities that students have across many different platforms,” Robinson said.

Handle emphasized the need for cooperation and her previous leadership roles that have focused on empowering women.

“Even though you might have the top slot as a leader, it's nothing without your team behind you. It's important not only to hear everyone's voices to see what you want to do with your leadership position, but just how you can collaborate across campus and use your leadership role to benefit those around you and not just have yourself there,” Handle said.

Handle also dove into the need for safe sex resources in Appalachia.

“We've been working on various projects and trying to make safe sex stuff available. Not only are we in Appalachia, so we have food deserts, but we also have a desert in terms of safe sex resources,” Handle said.

Lewis used his time to point out the fact that the average wage outside Ohio U is higher than the current student wage. 

“Ohio University is not first competitive enough, but they're also not able to provide enough for their students. And so we need to fight and we need to fight hard to make sure that each student who comes here is able to get the money that they need in order to be able to come here,” Lewis said. “How can we say that we are a functioning university if we have students who aren't able to get food? This is a major problem and this is something that we needed to address right away.” 

The next and final debate is scheduled for April 3. Student Senate elections are set for April 4 via email.