Emotional Support Animals are common here at OCU; you may have seen or interacted with one while walking to class on campus.
When SGA President Trae Trousdale was elected, students asked for a dog park, and he said that he would be interested in adding one to campus as well as adding animal waste stations to campus.
“We are definitely looking ahead,” Trousdale said. “We are looking at opportunities, something that I am sure a lot of students can realize is the nature of our campus.”
Space on campus can be limited, and it is the department heads that get first choice when it comes to allocating new building ventures.
“We have OKC development in all directions,” Trousdale said. “So it is really finding that space on campus that we can use to dedicate to our four-legged friends.”
The initial idea for the dog park was given to SGA by a post in the OCU Facebook group asking for a temporary dog park to be set up in the afternoons on campus.
“That is something we are still looking to do,” Trousdale said, “So be looking for that later this Spring, either near the end of my administration or the beginning of the next administration.”
The choice of making a more permanent dog park on campus is the decision of President Martha Burger and the board of trustees.
“We can continue to advocate for that,” Trousdale said. “But space on campus is not something that SGA cannot allocate.”
“Last semester got very turbulent in SGA,” Trousdale said, “So it was not really on our chopping block before we left for Christmas break.”
The issue was not actively considered last semester due to SGA being turbulent, Trousdale said. It is now being prioritized more highly.
“If we are being forced to live here,” Trousdale said, “We may as well enjoy the community where we are living.”
KC Curry, Director of Constellation, will be handling the issue in the coming weeks. Trousdale said he did not foresee major obstacles to a dog park.
“When we are looking at the growth of OCU we have to be coming into that conversation with the deans,” Trousdale said. “The way that we have decided to go about these conversations is seeing where everyone else’s mind is at and then working within the parameters of what is easy and feasible.”
Trousdale said that having service animal waste stations outside of Methodist hall is possible.
“There is a lot of green space that, if developed, could be very suitable,” Trousdale said. “It is small enough that it would not impede on anyone’s building projects, but large enough that it could accomplish what we are trying to do.”
Tan Neeno, BA Theatre and Performance Junior, was interested in a dog park or more waste stations on campus.
“I think animal waste pick-up stations would be very helpful,” Neeno said, “There is an expectation that if you own an animal you should clean up after them.”
Neeno said that the waste clean up by students on campus was lacking, but the presence of waste pick-up stations could prevent animal waste from being left on the ground as frequently.
Neeno said that they thought a dog park would be a good idea, but had some reservations.
“It would be a nice way for pet owners to socialize there animals,” Neeno said. “I would be worried that cleaning it would fall to custodians who already have so much to do and so much to clean up after.”
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