ROBERT NEITHART, Asst. News Editor–
The most effective policy is that which results from purposeful, pragmatic thought. As a philosophy major and former president of the Denison Campus Governance Association during his time on the hill, Rob Moore ‘12 has taken this sentiment to heart to motivate his work and mission.
Returning to the Hill this past Monday, Moore addressed DCGA in a talk concerning policy development and the sort of sustained thinking and decision-making that ought to underpin the drafting of new school-wide legislation.
After graduating from Denison, Moore worked with AmeriCorps in Omaha, NE, undertaking projects in neighborhood organizing, public health, and substance abuse, eventually becoming the head organizer for Planned Parenthood in the state of Nebraska.
Moore went on to earn a master’s degree in public policy from UC Berkeley and eventually moved back to Ohio, where he founded Scioto Analysis, a policy analysis firm seeking to aid policymakers and policy influences in their work. DCGA Policy Chair Madeleine Murphy ‘23 interned for Moore over the summer, which prompted his reintroduction to campus governance.
Drawing from his background, Moore reflected on the issues he faced as DCGA president and the steps he and his fellow members took toward ameliorating campus-wide problems.
Moore delved into his perspective on issues ranging from campus parking to party culture, explaining how he tackled these problems as DCGA president, the lenses of equity and fairness he considered in the drafting of policy, and the dialogue he and his fellow members fostered, saying, “ DCGA [bridged] the gap between the administration and students.”
Though Moore explained that many of the issues he faced during his tenure as DCGA president have improved, similar problems nevertheless persist and emerge within the ever-evolving landscape of college life at Denison. For example, Denison’s recent Clery Act report reveals that sexual assault, which was a pressing issue during Moore’s years on the Hill, has seen an uptick in the years since COVID.
Current DCGA president, Alex Pan ‘23, expressed gratitude in hearing insights from an alum, saying that Rob’s findings are “the definition of what we’re aiming at, contributing towards our movement towards transparency and being able to evaluate ourselves.”
The challenges members of DCGA must help resolve are complex and similarly multifaceted; however, approaching campus-wide issues with the degree of intentionality expressed by Moore helps to facilitate the creation of meaningful change, hopefully lasting beyond one’s tenure.