Spring Break
Student senators seek support for discrimination bill
In the hope of cultural unity, Student Government develops legislation for inclusive campus
By: Amanda Grosgebauer
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: News
Tyler Koch, senior speaker of the Senate, said during its time in the committee, representatives of groups that have historically been discriminated against were allowed to speak about the importance of the bill and why senators should support it.
Bryan was asked to bring dictionary, legal and social definitions of discrimination to share while changing wording in the bill, to hold less weight and responsibility, in order to meet the terms laid out by the senators opposed.
During the three-month period, many senators were e-mailed and asked to vote in favor of the bill. Few were asked by their constituents to vote against the bill. A division grew between senators in support of the bill and those who felt it was overloaded with verbiage and that a second, broader bill would be better, Koch said.
On Jan. 23, the bill was brought before the Senate for the final time. The vote ended with 17 in favor, 30 opposed and four abstained in an individual-voiced vote in which each senator had to declare their vote.
Former Student Senator Victor Guo, who represented The College of Geosciences, resigned from the Senate before the final vote in anticipation of its failure and said, "If this is something that Senate does not stand for, then it doesn't represent me."
Samantha Kropp resigned from her position for many reasons, "Most senators represent their own ideas or beliefs and don't go out and ask the opinion of the students in their caucus."
Kropp received e-mails from people in her college supporting the bill and voted in support of the bill because that is what her constituents asked her to do.
Bryan and supporters were unwilling to let the fight end with a failed bill, so for the first time in student government history, they enacted a clause that allows for a referendum vote to be opened to the students if 10 percent of the student body signs a petition within 10 days.
Supporters have been petitioning through Facebook groups and events, tabling every day in Rudder Plaza and visiting organizations to try to gain enough signatures before time runs out.
Bryan was asked to bring dictionary, legal and social definitions of discrimination to share while changing wording in the bill, to hold less weight and responsibility, in order to meet the terms laid out by the senators opposed.
During the three-month period, many senators were e-mailed and asked to vote in favor of the bill. Few were asked by their constituents to vote against the bill. A division grew between senators in support of the bill and those who felt it was overloaded with verbiage and that a second, broader bill would be better, Koch said.
On Jan. 23, the bill was brought before the Senate for the final time. The vote ended with 17 in favor, 30 opposed and four abstained in an individual-voiced vote in which each senator had to declare their vote.
Former Student Senator Victor Guo, who represented The College of Geosciences, resigned from the Senate before the final vote in anticipation of its failure and said, "If this is something that Senate does not stand for, then it doesn't represent me."
Samantha Kropp resigned from her position for many reasons, "Most senators represent their own ideas or beliefs and don't go out and ask the opinion of the students in their caucus."
Kropp received e-mails from people in her college supporting the bill and voted in support of the bill because that is what her constituents asked her to do.
Bryan and supporters were unwilling to let the fight end with a failed bill, so for the first time in student government history, they enacted a clause that allows for a referendum vote to be opened to the students if 10 percent of the student body signs a petition within 10 days.
Supporters have been petitioning through Facebook groups and events, tabling every day in Rudder Plaza and visiting organizations to try to gain enough signatures before time runs out.
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