Future student leadership took the spotlight last night at Ohio Northern University’s (ONU) annual Student Senate Presidential Debate in the Dicke Forum. The debate featured two pairs of candidates: Bronsin Buck and Riley Hopkins, and Sarah Carpenter and Erin Bass.
Sarah Carpenter, a junior civil engineering major, currently serves as the Secretary of Housing on Senate. Erin Bass, a sophomore civil engineering major, holds the position of Southside Apartments Housing Representative. Both have been members of Senate since the beginning of their first years.
Bronsin Buck, a sophomore finance and accounting major, currently serves as the Treasurer of Senate. In contrast, Riley Hopkins, a sophomore nursing major, brings a new perspective to the table, having never served on Senate before.
With the election season underway since January 3rd, the campus awaited this moment of engagement between candidates. Student Senate, responsible for managing student organization budgets, addressing campus concerns, and serving as the student body’s voice, required each pairing obtain at least 250 petitions across campus to support their campaigns.
Open comments and questions, facilitated on Student Senate’s Instagram (@onu_senate), provided an avenue for student engagement during the debate.
The debate was filled with lively discussions and clear ideas for ONU’s future. A large turnout signaled heightened interest and support in the candidates’ platforms and strategies.
During the Debate, Hopkins articulated a vision of the Senate as a moderator and communicator, steering clear of strong opinions and focusing on simply communicating issues to the student body and fostering collaboration between faculty and students, echoing the call for transparency championed after the Hill Building controversy. In contrast, Buck, drawing from his experience as the current Treasurer, emphasized the need for practical solutions within campus structures.
Carpenter spoke on her focus on tangible student-driven initiatives, such as reviving the Monthly Student Feedback Form (MSFF) and enhancing transparency through social media. Bass’ emphasis on student interests and familiarity with Senate dynamics further enriched the discussion. Conversely, Hopkins underscored the importance of consistent presence in Senate proceedings, aiming to infuse grit and commitment into the organization. Meanwhile, Buck acknowledged gaps in his knowledge but stressed the Senate’s responsibility in fostering an inclusive environment to combat challenges like the enrollment cliff.
Divergent views emerged on Senate’s efficacy and communication. Buck advocated for a complete overhaul, emphasizing the need for Senate to better accurately represent student voices over prioritizing experience. Hopkins sought to demystify Senate, making it more approachable for all students. In contrast, Carpenter did not speak to redoing the Senate structure but instead highlighted the need for Senate’s influence to be shown to all students, enrolled and future, as to ensure higher visibility for the organization. She advocated for Senate to have a more active involvement in admission and recruitment events, such as Orange and Black Day.
Carpenter stated her potential administration’s primary focus would be to enhance the student organization experience, saying, “Increasing the resources for the student organizations and increasing the funding for them can help their members individually find their home here at ONU easier.” Bass emphasized the importance of approachability and accessibility: “It’s important that people aren’t afraid to approach us…we’re willing to help you in any way possible.”
When asked about leveraging the budget to better serve the student body, Carpenter emphasized giving back and teaching organizations how to use funds effectively: “We want to explore finding ways to make organizations more financially viable and help them fundraise, especially with conferences.” Bass echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of financial support for professional organizations and students’ academic pursuits.
Carpenter and Bass emphasized their commitment in a slogan, stating,
“Take your goals and make them a reality.”
– Sarah Carpenter, 2024
On the other hand, Bronsin emphasized his potential administration’s focus on improving Senate’s image: “I believe the difference is that we want to push getting a better image out about Senate.”
When discussing strategies to foster unity within Senate and among campus organizations, Bronsin highlighted the importance of accessibility, saying: “We want to push our office hours – post them just about everywhere – so that people are informed about Senate.” Riley echoed this sentiment, emphasizing wanting a positive environment and energy spread throughout campus.
Regarding leveraging the budget, Bronsin stressed the importance of a strong Finance Committee: “To make sure that it is not just one person, having a great [finance] committee ensures the treasurer is never overwhelmed and performing to the best of their ability.”
On encouraging participation in Senate, Bronsin acknowledged the intimidating nature of the position: “It’s a hard thing to step into.” Their strategy involves demystifying Senate roles and highlighting its potential: “The sky is really the limit…as long as people know that positions will continue to be filled.”
In terms of their candidacy for Senate President and Vice President, Bronsin and Riley assured students of transparency and clarity:
“You will know what we do.”
– Bronsin Buck, 2024
With some parting advice, current Vice President Justin Hall emphasized the challenge of aligning plans with realities: “The biggest challenge that we faced within our administration was the realization that things are not always going to go the way that you had planned, or the way that you really hoped that they would go.” Despite some pushback from ONU’s higher administration on a few of their plans, Hall stressed their persistence in prioritizing student needs: “We were persistent to ensure that the needs of the students were being met.”
Highlighting their administration’s impact, Hall noted their advocacy for transparency: “The most impactful contribution that our administration had was always being an advocate for the students.” This included hosting discussions with university officials and maintaining a fuller staffed Senate.
Looking forward, Hall identified the campus master plan as a primary challenge for the two pairs, saying, “The biggest primary challenge for the succeeding administration is going to be the long road ahead. Being able to get the buy-in from the students to truly allow them to understand is going to be the biggest challenge.”
In evaluating candidates, Hall urged students to perform their own personal research and go vote:
Student Senate elections directly impact the budget for student organizations, thus shaping the campus experience for all. These elected officials serve as the student voice and representatives on the Board of Trustees, advocating for student interests and concerns. This election will who will represent the student body and make decisions on their behalf.
The voting period is open now until Friday, February 23rd, providing an opportunity for every student to participate in shaping the future of Ohio Northern University. Votes can be cast on the Northern Network at https://northernnetwork.onu.edu/