After heated debate, the Student Senate narrowly passed a resolution requesting the Athletic Department extend spouse tickets to unmarried partners, including gay couples. The bill, written by College of Arts and Sciences Sen. Brett Jackson, urges the University’s ticket office to provide spouse tickets to domestic partners. The ticket office currently issues tickets to couples showing evidence of a marriage license. Jackson said his bill proposes a student show “proof of evidence or documentation” that two individuals are life partners. He said there are several reasons a couple may choose not to marry and that should not limit students’ rights to receive spousal ticket privileges. He said the resolution aims to promote equality of all students – specifically regarding the discrimination against gay students. “Because Louisiana bans gay marriages, there should be some sort of system in place to where gay couples and life partners not married in Louisiana can receive spouse tickets,” Jackson said Monday. Sen. Andrew Remson, chair of the Committee of Academics, Athletics and Administration, urged senators to defer the resolution to his committee for further discussion. He said the Athletic Department planned a public forum March 6 in the Student Union to address student body questions about the issue. After more than one hour of debate, the bill passed in a 20-13 vote, with 13 others absent or abstaining. During Public Input, Acting Chancellor William Jenkins introduced Gary Durham, executive director of public safety, to inform senators of the latest campus safety developments. Durham said cameras have been added in the Nicholson and Edward Gay apartments. He said two cameras are near Kirby Smith and the Office of Public Safety is adding 10 more to the campus’ interior. Durham said there are 10 functional cameras now, and there will be 40 more in the next two months. Durham said additional patrols have been added to Edward Gay, Nicholson, West Campus, Sorority Row and the Quad. Officers will no longer publicize their on-duty hours in an effort to prevent criminals from operating around these times. “I cannot guarantee everybody’s protection,” he said. A crime intervention unit was reinstituted Tuesday night to stop individuals engaging in suspicious activity. The unit includes four undercover officers. Durham said the unit made two arrests Tuesday night. Jenkins said he was unable to disclose more details for security reasons. Later, the Senate passed a bill to further fund the printing of the “L” book. The book contains information about the University’s history and Student Code of Conduct and is distributed to all incoming freshman. The Center for Student Leadership and Involvement has printed the book inconsistently over the past few years because of inadequate funding. The bill, written by University College Center for Freshman Year Sen. Drew Davis, allocates $1,500 from the Senate contingency account to CSLI. SG President Cassie Alsfeld approved the allocation of an additional $1,500 from the executive contingency account to help fund the “L” book’s $5,000 cost. The Senate unanimously passed two resolutions, expressing condolences to family and friends of victims of the recent shootings at Northern Illinois University and Louisiana Technical College.
—-Contact Natalie Messina at [email protected]