On Tuesday, March 5, the Associated Students of Oregon State University held an advisory meeting which was met with protests, emotional testimonies and calls for structural reform.

OSU administrators met with ASOSU members in order to structure just how the student government is going to move forward in the coming months. The hour-long meeting was met with allegations of misconduct and government failures, university officials framed the partial shutdown of ASOSU as an opportunity for a reset.

Kevin Doughterty, Senior Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Students, addressed the meeting by acknowledging the dysfunction within ASOSU and emphasizing the need for course correction. “What kind of legacy do you wish to leave behind?” Dougherty asked ASOSU members, urging them to reflect on their roles in shaping the future of student governance.

As Dan Larson, Vice Provost of Student Affairs, began his remarks, protestors entered the meeting holding signs reading, “Union Busters” and asking “How many more elected officials will you fire?” The protest displayed growing frustration over the suspension of ASOSU’s Constitution, the termination of elected officials and concerns over transparency.

Three ASOSU members were terminated last week, including Matteo Paola, Adison Rowe and Dylan Perfect.

The three stated that they received termination emails from Leslie Schacht Drey, associate dean of student belonging at the Office of the Dean of Students. They said the email cited “failures in (their) performance and/or conduct, including but not limited to adhering to directives and policies,” as the reason.

The firing of the three members has prompted controversy within ASOSU, including a letter from current and elected members detailing their distress with the decisions.

Drey discussed a plan to redo the ASOSU Constitution under a group review process alongside an assessment of the Student Fee Committee procedures. However, it remains unclear who will be involved in these review groups during the temporary shutdown of student government operations.

A key component of the ASOSU training period will be a common reading of the book, “Leading Imperfectly: The Value of Being Authentic for Leaders, Professionals, and Human Beings” by James Robilotta. The book discussion is intended to “bridge the gaps” in ASOSU’s policies and governance, though specific policy reforms have yet to be clarified.

Public comment brought forth emotional testimony from multiple students expressing distress over the ASOSU’s current state. SFC Chair-elect Dylan Perfect raised concerns about how the shutdown and review process would affect the results of the most recent ASOSU election.

Former Judicial Councilor and ASOSU President Matteo Paola followed, revealing that in his professional work at ASOSU, he has allegedly received death threats but still found the environment within the ASOSU this year to be even more distressing. Paola accused ASOSU of fostering an ableist culture and demeaning of student leaders, leading him to contemplate self-harm.

Former Senate Pro Tempore Adison Rowe spoke about the unprofessional manner in which they were terminated from ASOSU, questioning the administration’s commitment to free speech protections.

Senator Emerson Pearson, who could not attend, had her remarks read by another attendee. Pearson accused ASOSU administrators of using DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) strategies to discredit and target student workers, arguing that HR prioritizes administrative interests over student support and often engages in victim blaming when concerns are raised to them.

An unnamed student with disabilities expressed their concerns over ableism within ASOSU leadership, while Senator-elect Dawson Yang criticized administrators for repeatedly stripping student government workers of their liberties. SFC Chair Sophia Nowers, reflecting on her experience within ASOSU, described the environment as unhealthy and supported efforts to restructure the organization, seeing this time of partial shutdown as a potential moment for necessary reset.

As the review process continues to unfold, university officials, including Larson and Dougherty, expressed gratitude toward those working through the shutdown to improve ASOSU. However, deep tensions remain, with many students demanding accountability, clearer reforms, and protections for student government members moving forward.