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About Us - Structure

USG is divided into the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches.

President Kate Christobek speaks at convocation

The Executive Branch

 

President- Peter Koltak (koltak.5@osu.edu)

The President is elected each year in the spring. He or she runs with a vice presidential candidate and is the leader of the Undergraduate Student Government. The responsibilities of the President include acting as the liaison for students to the administration and representing their opinions, serving as the spokesperson for undergraduates, and leading the organization as a whole. The President sets the policies and determines the initiatives for the year.

Vice President- Amanda Graver (graver.10@osu.edu)

The Vice President is elected with the president in the spring. The major responsibility of the Vice President is to appoint and monitor University Senate and University Wide Committees. This is a largely administrative position but is also vital to serving undergraduates, as committees are a primary outlet for expressing and pursuing student concerns. The Vice President is also responsible for appointing a cabinet and is a voting member of the University Senate. He or she will also commonly fill in for the President at various events.

Chief of Staff- Alex Swain (swain.64@osu.edu)

The Chief of Staff is appointed by the President and Vice President and runs the cabinet. He or she will help the administration develop policy and implement programs and will work with the cabinet members on their specific projects. The Chief of Staff is also a largely administrative position, and will commonly plan retreats, organize large events, and work as a liaison from the cabinet to the Senate. This job consists of many personnel issues and he or she must be willing and able to mediate conflict and, at times, to discipline other students. The role of this job is entirely dependent on the expectations of the President and Vice President.

Executive Cabinet

The Executive Cabinet serves as an aid to the President, Vice President and Chief of Staff.  Included Positions are Press Director, and Marketing Director  The Press Director works with student media as well as other outlets of communication to spread word of issues, events, and news related to USG and pertinent to undergraduates.  Coordinates website and monthly USG newsletter to further this purpose.  The Director of Marketing creates and implements an effective marketing campaign across campus.  Presents USG's message in an aesthetically pleasing format and coordinates promotional distribution to best reach undergraduates.

Cabinet Directors

The cabinet directors are appointed after an application process and an interview by the President, Vice President and Chief of Staff. Each of the directors are responsible for running a committee and achieving certain objectives, which are developed during the year. The directors' focus on specific areas, and are responsible for completing projects in their respective areas. They are also required to attend weekly Cabinet Directors Meetings, as well as running their own committee meetings. Many of them also serve on University Committees and in various capacities within the University.

Cabinet Committees 2008/2009:

  • Academic Affairs
  • Governmental Relations
  • Internal Affairs
  • Safety & Wellness
  • Student Life
  • Student Outreach

Cabinet Committee Members

The cabinet committee members' work on one of the various committees in an area of their interest. Some will devote countless hours to the organization and work diligently on a specific project, while others will opt to just attend their weekly meeting. Often if directors resign, outstanding committee members are elevated to those positions.

 

The Legislative Branch (The Senate)

 

The Undergraduate Student Government Senate is comprised of fifty nine individuals who were elected by the undergraduate students. Senate serves as the legislative branch of USG. The Senate is led by the Speaker of the Senate, which is elected by a vote within Senate.

The Senate passes resolutions, which bring a call to action to the University or USG. The Senate also passes Bills, which appropriate monies to different student organizations for events and projects.

Senate Seats

The Senate has forty-five seats that represent twenty-six different constituencies elected by popular vote from these constituents in the spring:

Colleges

  • Arts
  • Biological Sciences
  • Business
  • Dentistry
  • Education & Human Ecology
  • Engineering
  • Food, Agricultural, and Enviromental Sciences
  • Humanities
  • Math and Physical Sciences
  • Medicine and Public Health
  • Nursing
  • Pharmacy
  • Social Work
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • USAS

Living Areas

  • North
  • South Campus
  • West Campus
  • Off-Campus
  • Commuter

At-Large

  • Diversity
  • International

Regional Campuses

  • Newark Campus
  • Lima Campus
  • Mansfield Campus
  • Marion Campus

Senate Leadership

  • Speaker of the Senate- Ben Anthony (anthony.122@osu.ed): runs meetings, leads the Senate
  • Parliamentarian- Stephen Smith (smith.5137@osu.edu): ensures meetings run smoothly, leads if Speaker cannot
  • Secretary- Ashley Sinram (sinram.2@osu.edu): records attendence, votes and activity at the meetings

The Senate Steering Committee is the leadership committee of the Senate. Its purpose is to review the progress of Senate and guide the direction of Senate. It is comprised of the Speaker, who chairs the committee, as well as the Parliamentarian, the Secretary of Senate, the University Senate Liaison and the chairs of the following committees:

  • The Budget and Finance Committee reviews all bills and appropriations of money. (Chair Pat Mayer- mayer.508@osu.edu)
  • The Student Life Committee reviews all resolutions dealing with the student committee. (Chair Anne Evans- evans.881@osu.edu)
  • The Policy and Governance Comittee reviews all resolutions that deal with procedural or governmental changes, as well as resolutions that deal with matters not directly dealt with by Student Affairs or USG. (Chair Zach Usmani- usmani.4@osu.edu)
  • The Academic Affairs Committee reviews all resolutions concerning changes or recommendations to undergraduate academics. (Chair Ben Reinke- reinke.12@osu.edu)

Senate Responsibilities

  • Attend weekly Senate meeting
  • Attend monthly University Senate meeting (see governance structure)
  • Hold one constituency office hour per week
  • Meet bi-weekly with corresponding cabinet committee
  • Submit quarterly report to Speaker

 

The Judicial Branch & Independent Officers

 

Treasurer

Oversees the USG budget, maintains checkbook and deals with monthly expenses (i.e. copier, phones) and incurred expenses (i.e. events.) The treasurer is an ex officio Senate member and must regularly report to them.

Elections Governance Board (EGB) Director

Runs the annual USG elections by organizing debates and other get-out-the-vote events and ensures that all prospective candidates follow certain guidelines; the EGB director submits EGB by-laws for Senate approval each fall.

Press Secretary

Keeps the OSU student body informed of all USG matters and distributes press releases on behalf of USG.

Judicial Panel- Chief Justice Seth Rokosky (rokosky.1@osu.edu)

Members who serve on the Judicial Panel are responsible for interpreting the USG Constitution and the by-laws to ensure that no laws are being obstructed. The Judicial Panel is usually only active during the election season, when candidates bring claims against each other concerning EGB by-laws. Members of the Judicial Panel cannot serve in any other USG capacity and a Chief Justice and a Clerk lead them. The clerk is an appointed position by the Senate and the Justices are appointed by both the Vice President and a special officer selection committee. Members are appointed for their entire OSU careers.