Project No-Confidence at Ohio University

I chose the "education" topic as my cause because that is precisely what I was struggling for. As an out-spoken student activist, I defended proper practices in the university environment. At Ohio University-- as well as countless other universities and colleges around the country-- the system is so extremely "top-down" that the students have absolutely no control over their education, the environment in which they live, decisions which are made on their behalf, as well as processes that are completed behind closed doors by administrators and trustees. As a response to this, I organized a "vote of confidence" in the university's president so that the entire university community could democratically vote to share how much confidence they have in the face of the administration. I organized and publicized several rallies, protests, and demonstrations to increase awareness throughout the community and sent many letters to local newspapers. Voter turn-out was at an all-time high for the university's student government elections--for which I ran on a "no-confidence" platform for senator-- and the students and faculty both voted 77-78% no confidence in the president. Although the president brushed this response off and deemed it "inconclusive," the student body was able to unite for this cause and make plans to take further action in defending our right to a fair and democratic education system in the following school year.