ASUO passes resolution supporting peace and human rights center

The ASUO Senate voted unanimously in favor of its support for a permanent campus center with a focus on human rights

Johnathan Propes • November 18, 2024

The ASUO (Associated Students Of The University of Oregon) office is located in the Erb Memorial Union 004. (Sebastian Flores/Emerald)

On Oct. 30., the Associated Students of the University of Oregon Senate passed a new resolution in support of establishing a center for peace and human rights on campus.

According to the resolution, the ASUO Senate “encourages the consideration of the preliminary, investigative and collaborative work done by the UO Coalition for a Center for Peace and Human Rights” to establish a permanent on campus location.

The resolution was written by Senate President Taliek Lopez-DuBoff, Senators Bella Esbeck, Erin Luedemann, Liz Sgro, and Samaah Mohammad, and UO Students, including Charles Petrik and Sophia Barghouti. It was also co-authored by the UO Coalition for a Center for Peace and Human Rights and several additional senators.

The resolution also said that 15 of the 18 schools in the Big Ten conference, including the University of Washington and Purdue University, have some sort of human rights program, curriculum or center, which was cited as a reason for its creation.

As one of the resolutions authors and an organizer of the UOCCPHR, Petrik said that the resolution “[recognizes] the need for and [pushes] for certain aspects including physical space, preparatory programs, productive environments for discussion and bridge building.”

Barghouti, another author and organizer of the UOCCPHR, said that she imagines the center as something that “will inspire students to become impactful leaders in human rights advocacy while also preparing them for successful careers dedicated to achieving lasting peace.”

ASUO Senator Rachel Withers said that her support was based on the values held by the UO.

“I am proud to support the resolution because the University of Oregon prides itself on being an innovative and progressive school [that] advocates for student needs,” she said

Following its passing, the resolution calls upon the Office of the Provost to develop a task force that would examine the need for the center, investigate support options for the initiative and explore funding options.

This task force would include an equal number of students and faculty members who would bring their distinct expertise to the table.

The Office of the Provost has not yet responded to a request for comment.