There are 500+ student organizations and countless opportunities to get involved on Miami’s campus. But what about in the City of Oxford? Whether you’re here for a few years or have lived here your entire life, you are considered a member of this community!
So what does that mean?
You have a stake in what happens here! We’ve compiled a few ways for you to learn about what’s going on at the city level in Oxford and to make your voice heard.
Attend a City Council Meeting
Learn what decisions are being made by attending Oxford City Council meetings. The meetings, held on the first and third Tuesday of every month, are open to the public, with an opportunity for public comment at every meeting. Meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Oxford Courthouse, located at 118 W High Street. Oxford residents are encouraged to attend and voice their concerns for their community!
…Or Watch One Online
If you aren’t able to attend City Council meetings in person, each one is recorded and posted as a video on the City of Oxford website. Watch the videos to stay informed on what’s happening in Oxford (and get the early scoop about new businesses coming to Oxford, zoning changes, policy updates and more!).
Learn about Upcoming Elections
Here’s the run down of the current City Council:
- Kate Rousmaniere – Mayor
- Mike Smith – Vice-Mayor
- Kevin McKeehan – Councilor
- Bob Blackburn – Councilor
- Steve Dana – Councilor
- Glenn Ellerbe – Councilor
- Edna Southard – Councilor
But next month, things will be shaken up a bit. City Council elections are November 7, 2017, with nine candidates competing for four spots. Last week, the Miami Student hosted a debate between the candidates. Check out their full stream of the debate. The candidates come from a wide array of backgrounds. Check out The Miami Student’s list of candidates and view the nonpartisan Voter Information Guide from the League of Women Voters of Oxford to educate yourself about your candidate options.
Vote!
So where do you vote? If you’re registered in Butler County, plug in your address to find your polling location on the Butler County Elections website. Students who live in the residence halls will vote in Shriver, but off-campus students should verify their location online.
If you are registered to vote somewhere other than Butler County (e.g. your hometown near Cleveland, Columbus, or even another state), you will need to vote by absentee ballot. The last day to request an absentee ballot in Ohio is November 4, 2017. However, rules differ by state. To learn more about voting via absentee ballot, visit vote.org.
Registered to vote in Butler County, but don’t have time to vote on Election Day? The Office of Community Engagement and Service is sponsoring a free Early Voting Bus Trip on November 4 with pickup locations on- and off-campus:
- 11:00am: Pick-up in front of Shriver Center
- 11:10am: Pick-up at the corner of Chestnut and Campus Ave
- 11:20am: Pick-up at the corner of High St and Main St
- 11:30am: Depart for Butler County Board of Elections
- 12:00pm: Arrive at Butler County Board of Elections
- 1:00pm: Depart for Miami University
- 1:30pm: Drop-off at E High St and N Campus
Make sure to bring a valid form of ID with you to the polls. The address on your valid form of ID must match the one you used to register to vote. If you registered to vote using your Oxford or Miami University on-campus address, you can generate a “Voter Proof of Address Letter” on MyMiami:
- Go to Quick Links
- Scroll to V
- Click “Voter proof of address (for students)”
- Select “local address” and “generate letter”
- Digital versions are accepted at the polls
Follow Oxford Police Department (OPD) on Facebook
Following OPD on Facebook is a great way to see what’s occurring “on the ground” in the community. Not only is their content approachable and sometimes-humorous, they provide some excellent tips for safety, theft prevention, and more.
Share Concerns with Your Off-Campus Senator
If you live off-campus and you have a question or concern about your experience in Oxford, reach out to your Off-Campus Senator in Associated Student Government. The senators are there to advocate for you with both the City and the University and they’d love to help!
We hope these tips will help you be an engaged, active citizen in Oxford!
