Ohio Innocence Project-U names new executive board, welcomes interested students

The Ohio University Chapter of the Ohio Innocence Project-U (OIP-u) invites interested students to attend a chapter meeting. The chapter has also announced next year's student leaders.

The next biweekly chapter meeting is March 16 at 6 p.m. in Bentley Hall 120.

OIP-u is affiliated with the Ohio Innocence Project, based at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, which actively pursues exoneration initiatives on behalf of individuals who have been wrongfully convicted and incarcerated. To date, the organization has helped to free 34 individuals who were wrongfully convicted. The project also advocates for lasting criminal justice reform through legislation.

OIP-u’s mission is to help shine a light on the issue of wrongful conviction. In the past, this organization has hosted several exonerees on campus to speak about their firsthand experience with the criminal justice system and share their stories of being imprisoned for crimes they did not commit. OIP-u provides a way for undergraduate and graduate students to raise awareness to the issue of wrongful conviction through events, biweekly meetings, tabling, and fundraising. The student organization is affiliated with the Center for Law, Justice and Culture.

For the 2022-23 academic year, OIP-u will be led by:

• President Aleah Bates, a current junior majoring in political science pre-law, with an anthropology minor, and a certificate in wealth and poverty
• Vice President Jocelin Arbenz, a current junior majoring in sociology-criminology, with minors in psychology and business administration
• Secretary Kiara Cirinclone, a current sophomore double majoring in political science pre-law and commercial photography, with a certificate in forensic studies
• Treasurer Caroline Rhude, a current sophomore double majoring in social work and HTC Spanish, with minors in quantitative business analysis and dance performance and choreography, and certificates in European studies and Latin American studies
• New Member Coordinator Emmalee Clark, a current sophomore majoring in political science pre-law, with a communications minor, and a certificate in law, justice and culture
• Social Media Coordinator Alex Moore, a current first-year majoring in psychology
• Communications Liaison Taylor Vickers, a current junior double majoring in political science pre-law and psychology, with a minor in sociology, and a certificate in law, justice and culture

Those interested in becoming an OIP-u member should contact Bates at ab413418@ohio.edu or Clark at ec493119@ohio.edu.