Students to vote on minority seat

Spring Quarter is approaching and Undergraduate Student Government elections are right around the corner.

This time, Ohio State undergraduate students will vote to change the bylaws in the USG Constitution to include a diversity senatorial position.  

“There is not really a substantial representative for these students,” said Social and Behavioral senator Tina Diggs. “This seat will bring issues of those constituents to USG.” 

This senator would have the same status, duties and responsibilities as present USG senators, but the individual would represent students from various ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation and physical and mental disability groups. 

“Creating this seat once again shows USG`s commitment to fight for the needs of students who are minorities by race, religion, sexual orientation and disabilities,” said USG President Josh Mandel. 

Diggs proposed the diversity seat in lieu of the Academic Plan, which outlines and establishes strategies to enrich student and faculty diversity at OSU. USG Senate passed the seat on Jan. 12. It will appear as a referendum on the ballot that the student body will vote on during USG elections Spring Quarter. If the position passes, any undergraduate student can run for the diversity seat in 2001. USG Vice President Michelle Gullett agrees that minority student representation should increase within USG.

“This will bring a more diverse view to the table at Senate meetings, which will in turn increase the representation that diverse students receive,” Gullett said.

Whether undergraduate students will or will not vote on the Constitutional amendments is not definite, but Diggs believes that students’ reactions will be positive.

“By putting the diversity seat on the ballot, it shows that USG and students are ready for changes,” she said.