Student Senate upholds impeachment of former Treasurer and President-Elect Reagan Farmer

Ohio University’s Student Senate held its final general body meeting of the year on Wednesday, April 24. The first portion of the meeting was focused on the trial and removal of former Treasurer and President-Elect Reagan Farmer. 

According to a statement released by the Senate on April 26, Farmer was found guilty under Section 5.12 of the Student Senate Rules and Procedures. The Senate Judicial Panel also launched investigations into the conduct of former Vice-President Isaac Davis and former President Megan Handle, but both resulted in a mistrial due to scheduling conflicts.

Section 5.12 of the Rules and Procedures indicates “gross or willful neglect of duty.” The Judicial Panel conducted an investigation into Farmer’s conduct, involving interviews that provided testimony and evidence in the form of screenshots. 

According to the Judicial Panel’s report, which was also released on April 26 on the Student Senate Instagram account, the Judicial Panel opened an investigation against Farmer following a meeting on Feb. 26. This investigation was initiated after a referral from a former Student Senate member was received that contained “detailed personal testimony and physical evidence that required the Judicial Panel to further investigate the matter,” according to the report.

The Judicial Panel reached the conclusion that Farmer’s alleged conduct included: “Persuading subordinate Student Senate members to alter votes during the Spring Semester ‘24 Vote of No-Confidence or to vote in a specific manner, interfering with the Vice President’s ability to properly fulfill duties, and providing false statements and untrue information to the Judicial Panel.”

Following the investigation, the Judicial Panel decided that a trial, which occurred on April 24,  was required. During the trial, former Chief Justice Jalen Tolbert of the Judicial Panel read the Articles of Impeachment against Farmer. Then, Farmer was offered the opportunity to appeal. This was followed by the deliberation of Senate, who acted as a jury, on the information provided. 

According to the Senate’s statement from April 25, Farmer’s impeachment was upheld with a vote of 13 in favor of the impeachment, 13 against and 5 abstentions. A two-thirds majority vote was required to overturn the Judicial Panel’s Articles of Impeachment.

According to the succession laws of the Rules and Procedures (Chapter 2 Section 7), the winning vice-presidential candidate would assume the role of president following the removal of the prior president, as outlined in the Senate’s statements. 

“During the executive session, two motions were made to suspend the succession laws of the Rules and Procedures, however, these votes failed to garner the two-thirds majority required to suspend Rules and Procedures,” the statement read. “Therefore, Dan Gordillo assumed the Presidency as outlined in Chapter 2.7.” 

It also encouraged students who had any applicable concerns to file a report under the Office of Community Equity and Civil Rights or Community Standards and Student Responsibility. 

The Senate will hold an internal nomination and election process to establish a new vice president for the 2024-2025 academic year. This will be decided at a meeting that will take place on Monday, April 29 at 7:15 p.m. in Walter 235.

In other Senate news, several resolutions were passed including one that would allow 4 Paws for Ability dogs to live in Ohio U’s residence halls. Additionally, Athens Fire Department Chief Rymer was awarded the Bobcat Medal of Honor. 

The meeting concluded around 12:30 a.m. with the appointments of next year’s Commissioners and Executive Officers.