Newly appointed USG President and Vice President aim to revive campus culture at Ohio State

Credit: McAlpine and Mason Campaign

By Amani Bayo

Bobby McAlpine and Madison Mason to be inaugurated as USG’s President and Vice President Tuesday 

What started out as two students with no interest in student government resulted in them becoming the face of undergraduate leadership. 

Bobby McAlpine and Madison Mason were inaugurated as USG’s President and Vice President Tuesday after winning a 73% vote during the elections last month, according to speaker of USG’s general assembly, Yondris Ferguson.

McAlpine, a third-year in electrical engineering and political science, and Mason, a third-year in political science ran on the campaign to bring unity back to Ohio State and the allocation of mental health resources. 

“At the end of the day, myself and Madison want to make the undergraduate student government work for as many people as possible on campus,” McAlpine said. “We are laying ourselves down at the feet of the student body and serving them as much as possible.”

After losing a close friend to suicide, the three-year-long couple said they were determined to secure a position of leadership among the student body to ensure resources are available for all students. 

“I don't think anybody should ever feel that alone, especially at a huge institution that brings in so much money every year,” McAlpine said. “The students should be able to reach out for help, not feel scared, not feel ashamed.” 

Mason said a part of ensuring students don't feel alone is to restore culture and tradition that was lost in the throes of the pandemic and encourage students to break out of the factions that pandemic restrictions produced.  

“One of our big goals that I think is gonna be really fun this year is to bring back more traditional Ohio State events like cookouts before football games and camping,” Mason said.

As part of their slogan, “Bridging the gap,” McAlpine and Mason said they want to establish a close relationship, not only between USG and the student body but among all students.

“It's bridging the gaps between students at Ohio State who don't necessarily interact with each other, connecting students with each other in tradition and spirit,” Mason said.

The couple said they intend to provide physical resources to students such as pamphlets listing spots of access, care packages and free safety devices to cater to the needs of all kinds of students. 

“I want to be really intentional with students’ funds and students seeing how their money is being spent to tangibly improve their lives,” Mason said.

McAlpine and Mason said working together as a couple creates a balance in how to collaborate and take on certain tasks. 

“Conflict resolution and things like that is number one in every relationship,” McAlpine said. “We know each other's strengths, weaknesses and how we can ebb and flow in different work.”

Mason said she is looking forward to the difference she and McAlpine can make in their executive position among the student body and seeing their campaign ideas materialize into practice. 

“Interacting with students at a high level is something that I'm really excited to do and I think I will feel as though I've made an impact when I'm able to interact with students,” Mason said. “That could be in advocacy context with mental health, with academics, with campus life or that could be through tangible things.”

Both McAlpine and Mason said they are excited to interact with more students and insist that they are just an email away.