Students protest possible changes

About 30 Ohio State student protesters rallied Tuesday afternoon outside the fourth annual Conference of Offices of Minority Affairs held in the Ohio Union ballrooms. The students were demanding a voice in recent changes made in OSU's Office of Minority Affairs. The students voiced particular concern with the role of Barbara Rich, who took over as acting vice provost of the office last summer with the departure of Leroy Pernell. The job of the vice provost is to be a liaison between campus administrators and the minority community. The protesters passed out fliers, petitioned and wore signs that said: "She [Barbara Rich] is not OUR voice." According to the fliers, the students are angry because they feel a "temporarily appointed" person shouldn't have the power without student input to bring about changes that will have a lasting effect on OSU. "It should never be said that we are against change," said Ricardo Wilkins, a senior majoring in CIS and president of the Afrikan Student Union. "But after reviewing the changes, we don't like this particular idea." Many OSU students offered their support by signing the petitions and reading the fliers. "This is an office that is directly for the students and yet the students are being kept out of what's happening to it," said Chenzira Sneed, a member of the union. Rich said the students have inaccurate information because changes have been made to enhance student services as well as the Hale Black Cultural Center. "After I have my quarterly staff meeting, I will be more than happy to dispel the OMA restructuring schedule to the students," she said. Rich said she has made every attempt to involve students by sending them letters and sharing information about the office's restructuring. Opposition among some students began in 1997 when the office announced plans to restructure. In the process, six tutorial and advising departments were condensed into three.

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