On Wednesday, members of the Women’s and Gender Studies Student Association planned a sit-in at Evans Hall to demand changes to OU’s sexual-assualt policy. However, the sit-in wasn’t needed because administrators agreed to the changes before students could enter the building.
OU sophomore Jordan Ward was the catalyst for the change. After she submitted a proposal outlining the policy’s problems to OU President David Boren and other university administrators March 23, Boren recommended that the filing period be extended from 30 to 180 days.
Many students involved were not satisfied with this change and neither were we. We felt that there shouldn’t be a time limit for filing such a report.
In a letter to the editor published Wednesday, Boren agreed to increase the window to one year, the same time Ward asked for in her proposal.
Ward’s other proposals were also fulfilled Wednesday afternoon during a meeting with Student Affairs directors Clarke Stroud and Susan Sasso. They told her they are looking to implement sexual-assault training mandatory for all freshmen and will work to better education OUPD about sexual assault.
Boren visited with students on the North Oval and admitted OU’s current policy was insufficient.
Sexual-assault is not a glamorous topic or something most are comfortable talking about. However, Ward used her personal experiences to advocate for change and hopes her experience will help make OU a safer environment for her peers.
UOSA leaders could learn a thing or two from her.
Ward saw a problem on campus and presented a professional proposal with real solutions to the administration. She shed light on an issue that Boren was unaware of.
During UOSA elections, we heard candidates voice their frustrations with students who don’t care about what happens on campus. However, there was a very active group of students who created change Wednesday, and we have to ask, where were our elected leaders?
The short answer, nowhere.
UOSA missed a valuable opportunity to stand beside the type of students they have been saying don’t exist on campus.We hope other students and student groups will follow Ward’s lead and take the initiative to properly present their concerns to the administration.
The students who rallied in front of Evans Hall proved students can change this campus as long as we remember we have the power to get the administration’s attention.
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Pinchfist 1 year, 1 month ago
Well done!
TheJR 1 year, 1 month ago
This is why UOSA elections have such poor turnout. UOSA doesn't matter. It's easier to get things done on your own than to wait for UOSA to care.