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
A 10-day window was opened beginning 8:30 a.m., Feb. 8, to allow supporters of an anti-discrimination legislation in Student Senate to gather 4,700 signatures that would allow the legislation to be brought before the student body through a referendum. The window will close Friday morning.
Riley Bryan, a junior recreation, park and tourism sciences major and student senator for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, drafted the bill and introduced it to Senate in the fall.
After seeking legal advice from professionals and researching anti-discrimination policies from other institutions in the Big 12, Pac 10 and Top 20 universities, Bryan said he structured the bill to best fit within the spirit of unity important to Texas A&M University. The University has policies and programs in place to discourage discrimination.
"[The policies] are not inclusive to all people and are sending mixed and confusing signals to individuals about who is protected under them since the current policies are different and not in complete congruency," the bill states.
The bill further states, "creating a single, more inclusive statement would create congruency among all documents and send one message, that Texas A&M University will not tolerate discrimination in any form."
Bryan's bill lists every type of discrimination to be prohibited: race, ethnicity, creed, color, citizenship, national or ethnic origin, pregnancy, religion or lack thereof, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, socioeconomic status, parental status, marital status and military or veteran status.
"Discrimination will happen no matter what, but an inclusive list would create a foundation for the University to support individuals when discriminated against," Bryan said.
He said that by listing the specifics, no one will fall through the cracks.
After its introduction in the fall, the Senate tabled the bill for three months to be edited to meet the approval of senators who voted against it.
Riley Bryan, a junior recreation, park and tourism sciences major and student senator for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, drafted the bill and introduced it to Senate in the fall.
After seeking legal advice from professionals and researching anti-discrimination policies from other institutions in the Big 12, Pac 10 and Top 20 universities, Bryan said he structured the bill to best fit within the spirit of unity important to Texas A&M University. The University has policies and programs in place to discourage discrimination.
"[The policies] are not inclusive to all people and are sending mixed and confusing signals to individuals about who is protected under them since the current policies are different and not in complete congruency," the bill states.
The bill further states, "creating a single, more inclusive statement would create congruency among all documents and send one message, that Texas A&M University will not tolerate discrimination in any form."
Bryan's bill lists every type of discrimination to be prohibited: race, ethnicity, creed, color, citizenship, national or ethnic origin, pregnancy, religion or lack thereof, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, socioeconomic status, parental status, marital status and military or veteran status.
"Discrimination will happen no matter what, but an inclusive list would create a foundation for the University to support individuals when discriminated against," Bryan said.
He said that by listing the specifics, no one will fall through the cracks.
After its introduction in the fall, the Senate tabled the bill for three months to be edited to meet the approval of senators who voted against it.
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