Senate Adviser Hall-Jones announces two upcoming campus dine-in options

Student Senate. Photo by Tim Zelina.

Ohio University Dean of Students and Student Senate Adviser Jenny Hall-Jones announced Wednesday at Student Senate that starting next week, two dine-in options will likely be available on campus.

“We’re easing into it, but you should be seeing some dine-in options at the Front Room and also at Nelson,” Hall-Jones said. 

According to Hall-Jones, Ohio U students’ continued efforts to stay COVID-19 safe and the low number of positive coronavirus test results in the last few weeks led to this decision.

Although the Athens County alert level remains red, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Athens has dropped to 124, according to Ohio U’s COVID-19 dashboard. Ohio U’s seven-day positivity rate stands at 0.9%.

“You’re going to see a lot more loosening of things as long as we continue to do well,” Hall-Jones said. 

A bill that would demand Ohio U to accept SNAP benefits at all campus markets was also withdrawn by its primary sponsor Treasurer Eliza Ivan. The bill had been tabled at a previous Senate meeting.

The Senate also appointed a new senator to the Academic Affairs Commission.

The resolution, sponsored by Academic Affairs Commissioner Corrin Smith, appointed Jesse Kanaval as senator for the College of Osteopathic Medicine for the 2020-2021 academic year.

President Ian Carter also encouraged more student participation during student speakout, which occurs at the beginning of all general body meetings. Students can share their questions, comments and concerns regarding issues on campus.

“We want our peers’ voices to be heard,” Carter said. “Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend to come to student speakout and speak up.”