The Ohio Student Association (OSA) is a left-of-center advocacy group focused on activating young voters for left-of-center policies. 1 Its primary areas of focus are higher education, criminal justice and civic engagement, 2 though it has also supported anti-Israel activism. 3
The Ohio Student Association is a member of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative (OOC). 4
Background
The Ohio Student Association is a member of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative (OOC), 4 which appears to act as its fiscal sponsor, having received hundreds of thousand dollars earmarked for OSA. 5
OSA focuses on higher education, criminal justice, and civic engagement issues from a left-of-center perspective. 6 The group is composed of student-led campus chapters. 7
Initiatives
Ohio Student Association advocates expanded financial aid in higher education. The group has also fought for relief from student debt and has partnered with Honesty for Ohio Education to support the teaching of left-of-center concepts on history and identity politics-related matters. 8 9
Regarding criminal justice, OSA asserts that a significant part of community safety requires “ending the criminalization of… Black, brown and poor young people[’s]” communities. OSA calls itself “a leader in the fight for justice” at the Cuyahoga County Jail, located in Cleveland, quoting a U.S. Marshal who called it “the worst jail in the country.” OSA’s Cleveland State chapter launched a “ban the box” campaign, opposing requirements to reveal a criminal record on job applications. 10
Regarding civic engagement, OSA emphasizes voter registration, get-out-the-vote events and voter education materials. 2 OSA likens managing the electorate to raising a child and believes it “must nurture our electorate, educate it, and teach it our values,” as well as offering it “culture, community and a sense of belonging.” 11 Its website links to pages that allow the user to figure out if the user is registered to vote, determine his or her polling location, and determine how to vote by mail. 11
OSA has also taken part in anti-Israel organizing. In April 2024, OSA posted twice on X (formerly Twitter) in support of students’ encampments that were meant to show “solidarity” with civilians in Gaza. 3 The account accused Israel of “genocide.” OSA also claimed that students’ voices were being repressed throughout the United States. 12
OSA opposed Ohio Senate Bill 83, which the group claims would “[censor] curriculums and dictat[e] how professors should be doing their jobs.” The group also opposes the bill because it “eras[es] meaningful concepts like race, culture, and identity” and calls it an “attack on workers’ rights,” claiming it would prevent university employees from collectively bargaining effectively and striking. 13
Financials
The Ohio Student Association does not appear to be an independent organization with its own tax forms. As a member of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, 4 it has received hundreds of thousands of dollars through the OOC. 14 5
In 2023, OSA received $75,000 from the Joyce Foundation 14 and it received $125,000 from the Marguerite Casey Foundation in 2022, both through the OOC. 5
In 2021, OSA received $15,000 from the Cedar Tree Foundation, an environmentalist grantmaker, through OOC. 15 The Hill Snowdon Foundation gave $50,000 directly to OSA that year. 16
In 2017, OSA received $5,000 from the Borealis Philanthropy, 17 and $20,000 from Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, both through OOC. 18
Leadership
Ohio Students Association’s website lists three people on their “The Squad” page. Rachael Collyer is listed as program director. After getting involved with OSA in 2012 as a sophomore at Ohio State University, Collyer began her term on staff in 2017 and resides in Cleveland. 19 Kris Crider is a student organizer, and Clara Conover is a digital organizer. 20
References
- “Ohio Student Association.” Ohio Student Association , 10 June 2022, https://www.ohiostudentassociation.org/
- “Ohio Student Association.” Ohio Student Association, 2023, https://www.ohiostudentassociation.org/our-work
- Ohio Student Association. X (Formerly Twitter), 19 Apr. 2024, https://www.x.com/OHIOStudents/status/1781362090009108830.
- “Members, Partners, and Coalitions.” Ohio Organizing Collaborative. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.ohorganizing.org/members-partners-coalitions.
- Marguerite Casey Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income tax (Form 990PF), 2022, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/912062197/202333189349106243/IRS990PF, Part XIV, Section 3.
- Ohio Student Association. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://ohiostudentassociation.org/
- “OSA.” Ohio Student Association. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://ohiostudentassociation.org/our-chapters.
- “Ohio Student Association.” Ohio Student Association, 2020, https://www.ohiostudentassociation.org/higher-education.
- “What Is Honest Education?” HFOE. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://www.honestyforohioeducation.org/what-is-honest-education.html
- “Ohio Student Association.” Ohio Student Association , 2023, https://www.ohiostudentassociation.org/criminal-justice.
- “Ohio Student Association.” Ohio Student Association , 2021, https://www.ohiostudentassociation.org/civic-engagement.
- Ohio Student Association. “X.com.” X (Formerly Twitter), 26 Apr. 2024, https://www.x.com/OHIOStudents/status/1783845921937125809.
- “Ohio Student Association.” Ohio Student Association, 2023, https://www.ohiostudentassociation.org/take-action.
- The Joyce Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income tax (Form 990PF), 2023, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/366079185/202433109349101803/IRS990PF, Part XIV, Section 3.
- Cedar Tree Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income tax (Form 990PF), 2021, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133601934/202223189349104707/IRS990PF, Part XIV, Section 3.
- Hill Snowdon Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income tax (Form 990PF), 2021, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/226081122/202203069349101225/IRS990PF, Part XIV, Section 3.
- Borealis Philanthropy, Return of Organization Exempt from Income tax (Form 990PF), 2017, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/464598642/201801799349301020/IRS990ScheduleI, Schedule I.
- Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income tax (Form 990PF), 2017, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/30300865/201842489349100909/IRS990PF Part XIV, Section 3.
- “Rachael Collyer.” Ohio Student Association , 2017, https://www.ohiostudentassociation.org/rachael-collyer.
- “The Squad.” Ohio Student Association , 2023, https://www.ohiostudentassociation.org/the-squad.