In the first meeting of spring term, the Student Senate sent two strong messages to University President Dave Frohnmayer regarding a policy of respect and the Workers’ Rights Consortium.
The senate approved the proposed public policy statement on respect, which comes out of the pledge of respect proposed by the Summer Diversity Interns. It includes a statement about the University and its dedication to freedom of speech, academic freedom and a culture of respect that honors individuals’ rights, safety, dignity and worth.
A list of six commitments follows the statement, including promoting a culture of respect, rejecting bigotry and discrimination and promoting a diversity of opinions on campus.
However, their approval does not instantly enact the document. It only urges Frohnmayer, who has the power to make University public policy, to do so.
ASUO Vice President Mitra Anoushiravani said the policy only establishes the University’s stance on diversity and does not force individual students to meet any requirements.
“We can’t make everybody sign a pledge,” she said.
While a 13-3 majority supported the document, Sen. Emily Sedgwick said she disagreed with some of the wording in the document, such as the pledge of academic freedom.
“What is academic freedom? I can’t graduate without completing my multicultural requirements and ones, twos and threes,” she said.
Sedgwick also raised opposition for First Amendment reasons last term when the senate briefly discussed a pledge of respect.
At Wednesday’s meeting, speech concerns were raised again that rejecting bigotry and promoting a diversity of opinions may conflict, but it was not enough to sway the vote.
In the second rule passed, the senate announced its support of the WRC to Frohnmayer. The document is very similar to the ballot passed in this year’s student election, pledging support for the group, which monitors the labor standards for the production of University licensed apparel.
The rule passed with almost unanimous support and senators voiced their strong opinions that the University needs to be a part of the WRC.
“[In regards to other schools,] we’re kind of behind on this stuff,” Anoushiravani said.
In the second part of the meeting, the senate approved a special request for $5,186 from the ASUO Multicultural Center for its upcoming speaker series, which runs April 4-8.
While the senate usually requires a week to look at special requests more than $1,000, senators voted to hear the request because of time lost last term to dead week, finals week and spring break.
Usually, the senate sees requests in the hundreds, but many senators said they thought the extra money was justified because of the heavy fund raising the MCC had done and the importance of the conference.
“This is not just a one-day conference, it’s five days,” Sen. C.J. Gabbe said. “It’s a representation of a collaboration of many student groups.”
At the end of the meeting, Sen. Michael Dixon announced his resignation from the senate for academic reasons.
The Student Senate is the legislative branch of the ASUO and handles financial issues regarding student programs. The Senate meets at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the EMU Board Room, third floor. All students can attend these meetings.