News
OU Student President Resigns After Hotel Incident
By: Sara Brumfield | Athens Messenger
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Ohio University’s Student Senate president has resigned following his arrest in Florida on Monday during a student trip to see the Bobcats play in the Beef ‘O’Brady’s Bowl.
Nick Southall, 22, was arrested in his hotel in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Monday after police found him walking the halls and screaming. He was arrested and charged with disorderly intoxication after allegedly “causing a disturbance” in the hotel. A spokeswoman for the Clerk of Circuit Court’s office in Pinellas County said the case was resolved by Southall paying a fine and costs totaling $550, although there was no finding of guilt.
Southall was part of a student bus trip to see the bowl game on Monday afternoon, however Southall was booked at around 4 a.m. on Monday and wasn’t released from jail until after 6 p.m. that day. The bus that transported the students to Florida for the game then picked up Southall from jail on Monday before returning to Athens.
On Thursday, Southall confirmed via email that he has since stepped down as president of Student Senate — a position that provided him with a full-tuition scholarship to Ohio University.
Southall declined to further comment on the situation.
Ryan Lombardi, OU’s vice president for Student Affairs and adviser to Student Senate, said that the Student Senate president receives a full-tuition scholarship, which is awarded each semester. He said Southall will not be eligible for the scholarship in the spring, adding that the scholarship does not include housing, dining and other fees.
According to Lombardi, Student Senate Vice President Anna Morton will become the new president and a new vice president (which has to be a voting member of Student Senate) will be voted on at the first meeting of the spring semester.
“I am obviously disappointed by the circumstances that led to Nick’s resignation,” Lombardi said. “I do feel that he did the right thing by deciding to step down under these circumstances, so that Student Senate will be able to move forward in the spring semester. I have full confidence that Anna will step into the president role and fulfill those responsibilities very well.”