GSS Encourages OU Admin to Take a Stand on Conflict-Free Campus

The resolution, which calls for the OU administration to publish a statement on the website acknowledging the resolution and its support of becoming and remaining conflict-free, also states, “that Graduate Student Senate requests that the Ohio University Ecology and Energy Conservation Committee work with the Bobcats for the Conflict-Free Campus to investigate conflict-free procurement alternatives and to develop a set of recommendations that will assist Ohio University in becoming less dependent on conflict minerals.”

“Initially the first thing we wanted from the administration was a general statement of support,” said Anna Weisheimer, STAND chief policy advisor. “Finally, we thought perhaps the Ecology and Energy Conservation Committee could take up the issue.”

The resolution has gained support from many OU organizations, such as the Undergraduate Student Senate, the Sierra Coalition, Amnesty International and Graduate Student Senate.

“It feels good that we’ve had a lot of really great support from the students,” said Weisheimer. “We’ve been working on this for a long time so it’s great to have a lot of students show their support.”

Despite the widespread support from students, the resolution has yet to be adopted by the OU administration.

“It’s been a tiny bit disheartening, but just having student support has been really reassuring,” Weisheimer said of the slow-moving efforts made by the administration.

Weisheimer said that stressing cooperation is imperative to winning the support of the administration.

“I think the administration has been really busy and hasn’t had a whole lot of time to dedicate to conflict-free,” she said.

“[President McDavis] has good intentions. I think he’s been trying to help but has a lot on his plate,” Weisheimer said. “We have fundamental differences in how to handle the issue. It’s not that he’s not trying to help.”

Weisheimer said that both STAND and the administration are going to have to make compromises to pass the resolution, and said McDavis won’t support the resolution until there is a concrete plan behind it.

In an attempt to gain support from the administration, STAND has called upon OU students to participate in a “Conflict-Free-Call-In day to President McDavis.” Tuesday, Nov. 15, students will call President McDavis’ office, expressing their support for the resolution.

“We want the administration to know we care about the issue,” said Weisheimer. “But at the same time, we want them to know that we want to cooperate.”

“I expect a really good turnout,” she said of the call-in. “I want to maintain an open dialogue and a very civil relationship with the administration.”