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Four Ohio University students met with State Senator and Assistant Minority Whip Lou Gentile (D, D-30) on Wednesday, Jan. 21 to discuss what they find to be Ohio’s most pressing issues in higher education.Ohio University Student Senate Vice President Caitlyn McDaniel said, for the most part, the lawmakers were very receptive.The students sought legislative support in stopping guaranteed tuition hikes and granting student trustees voting rights among other initiatives.“It’s just about a recommitment,” Student Senate Governmental Affairs Commissioner Will Klatt said, “that higher education is a part of Ohio’s long-term strategic future.”“There’s plenty of frivolous amenity spending that occurs that increases the cost of education,” Student Senate Governmental Affairs Commissioner Ben Mathes said, “and we don’t believe taxpayers should have to take on that burden.”Graduate Student Senate President Eddie Smith argued for health benefits for graduate assistants at Ohio University. Smith said Ohio currently does not provide graduate assistants with coverage, in contrast to peer institutions.Gentile heard students’ concerns in his office. Gentile was one of five lawmakers Ohio University students met Wednesday at the Statehouse.McDaniel said granting voting rights to student trustees is something “every student could get on board with and it seems like most people here at the Statehouse could get on board with too.”
