In response to: “#ReclaimOSU Solidarity Extends to Opposing Energy Privatization”
The author of the piece to which this opinion piece is discussing, Reed Kurtz, leaves out several key points when he is discussing the actions of #ReclaimOSU on April 6th. In a list of demands sent to the University, #ReclaimOSU requested that OSU divest from several Fortune 500 companies, halt progress in the privatization of University property, and ensure that the University has 40% of their food obtained from local, community based, sustainable sources [1].
The list of demands that are being pushed for by the #ReclaimOSU movement seem benign, but under the surface they are actually should be troubling to all students at OSU. While I am an ardent supporter of the 1st Amendment’s freedom to speech, assembly, religion, press, and petition, members of #ReclaimOSU should know that they are not entitled to have the administration consider and act upon their complaints. Moreover, having a protest to argue for anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic investments and organic food on campus damages and makes a mockery of the perceived impact of other grassroots activities that seek to bring real and immediate change to our society. #ReclaimOSU has attempted to play the “victim card” on campus in an effort to gain more publicity.
One of the biggest problem with this movement is that all their demands would ultimately make attending OSU more expensive. Let us be clear, the demands of #ReclaimOSU would increase tuition costs for all students. Setting aside the erroneous and dangerous anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli stances of the movement, their demands would greatly hurt the University. If OSU is forced to divest from several profitable Fortune 500 companies because of their falsely acclaimed actions overseas, OSU will most likely lose money. Moreover, our relationships with industrial companies lets OSU curry favor for the new building projects. Without these investments, OSU would need to raise tuition on all of us. Furthermore, the sale of assets to private company is a well established precedent among Universities across the nation. Not only does it enable the institution to focus their attention of education and research, but it is also extremely profitable for the University. This ultimately reduces our tuition burden. Finally, if the University was to submit to Real Food OSU’s asinine demands, our tuition burden would skyrocket. Food prices and meal plans on campus are expensive enough without the added cost of running a daily campus-wide farmer’s market. Most students look to cut costs at every turn in order to preserve their limited resources, but #ReclaimOSU looks to exploit and increase the student body’s tuition in pursuit of their illogical demands.
In a video published by The Tab on their YouTube page, students are shown chanting, “what side are you on my people?” [2]. The protestors and sympathizers of #ReclaimOSU would have you believe that they are, as Mr. Kurtz puts it, “[a] movement to democratize OSU’s campus” [3]. In their chants published by The Tab, it is clear that they are issuing a challenge for the leadership of The Ohio State University to comply with their nonsensical demands. In an attempt to bring about the “democratization” of OSU, #ReclaimOSU forgets that they are a small minority on campus when it comes to their radical anti-Israeli stances, and their misinformed obsession with organic foods. What #ReclaimOSU forgets is that with a true “democratization” of campus comes rule by majority, to which they do not belong.
Works Cited:
