The Ohio University Student Senate passed a resolution opposing any form of parental notification implemented by the university by a vote of 23 to 3.

The measure came after several senators met with OU administrators yesterday to discuss the university's one-year parental notification policy.

Under OU's new parental notification policy, parents of first-year students are informed by letter after their son or daughter's first Code A offense or second Code B offense. Code A offenses include intoxication and drug trafficking, and Code B offenses include open container and underage consumption violations.

Some senators who attended last night's meeting and oppose the notification policy said they were disappointed with the administrators' resistance to alter the one-year program.

Senator for the College of Education Alissa Galford said "Going in, I was thinking there would be some kind of change, but they weren't planning on changing anything."

But senators and students still can influence next year's policy, said Todd Grandaminico, state and federal legislative affairs senator. He said he knew the university's pilot policy would be kept intact this year,

"It looks like senate will be a big part of determining what happens next," Grandaminico said. "It's good to see the lines of communication are open."

Senate president Tom Ramage said he would make every effort to prevent the university from implementing the notification policy to all students under the age of 21, which is what the law allows.

But Ken Brown, residence life senator and one of three senators who voted against last night's resolution, said parental notification could prevent alcohol-related deaths in extreme cases.

"My concern is with students with long-term problems who don't always get the help they need," Brown said.

On the record:

n Dysart Defender and OU junior Sarah Radke said a press conference to alert the university of student concern for the potential mining of the old-growth forest near St. Clairsville will take place at 1 p.m. Friday in front of McGuffey Hall.

"Right now, we aren't sure how OU stands on the issue," she said. "We want to urge the university to do as much as possible to protect Dysart Woods."

Ramage said though the land is owned by OU, the mineral rights are not. He urged senators and students to attend the event.