The day of the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings, Student Senators discussed a handgun bill.
Several senators introduced a resolution opposing a state Legislature bill. Varying opinions about the resolution sparked heated debate lasting more than an hour.
The resolution opposes La. House of Representatives bill No. 199, which would authorize the carrying of handguns on college, university or post-secondary vocational-technical school campuses by those with a concealed handgun permit.
The resolution was drafted with the collective efforts of five senators serving on the Governmental Relations Committee.
The Student Senate also passed final bills aimed to allocate money to different University entities.
A bill written by Speaker Pro Tem Ben Clark passed to allocate $1,183 to Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. The money will help defray the costs of hosting the fraternity’s talent show, if SG President Cassie Alsfeld agrees to sign the bill into passage.
During Unfinished Business, a bill passed unanimously with seven abstentions allocating $4,000 from the SG initiatives account to the Department of French Studies. Sen. Brett Jackson, College of Arts and Sciences, wrote the bill. The money will help with the cost of hosting the department’s charitable fashion show, “Athletica: A Tribute to Sport.”
A bill written by two senators also passed and will allocate $600 to students seeking to attend the Students in Free Enterprise national competition.
Sen. Ryan O’Malley, chair of the Finance Committee, and Sen. Matt Greene, College of Agriculture, wrote the bill.
O’Malley offered his resignation at the end of the meeting.
The Senate recessed until Thursday where the debate will continue and several more resolutions will go to the floor.
—-Contact Natalie Messina at [email protected].