Inciting a standing ovation from the Student Government Senate, a resolution to “urge and request that gender identity and gender expression be included in the nondiscrimination clause of the equal opportunity policy” passed Wednesday night.
Several Spectrum members voiced their opinions about the bill, along with the original authors of the bill, College of Music and Dramatic Arts Sen. Morgan Taylor, Graduate School Sen. Carolyn Hill and University Center for Freshman Year Sen. Jackson Voss.
The debate included discussion about whether gender expression was equivalent to racial or religious expression. While several senators expressed their passion for the resolution, it did not pass unanimously, with a few senators choosing to fail the bill or abstain from voting.
After intense and vigorous debate, the SG Senate passed a finance bill “to allocate a maximum of $1,800 of the Student Senate Contingency to reimburse the pre-vet club at LSU for costs associated with their annual educational bus trip.”
Senate also passed a resolution to “urge and request the formation of a student code of conduct committee to enact necessary changes to said code.”
The senators also amended Article VI, Section Eight, Subsection C of the SG bylaws to say students must first apply to the Programming, Support and Initiatives Fund or Organization Relief Fund before requesting Senate funding. If students do not meet PSIF or ORF requirements, is deemed ineligible or is denied by PSIF or ORF for funding, then they may then be eligible to request funds from Senate.
College of Humanities and Social Sciences Sen. David Jones said SG Senate’s Committee on External Affairs discussed the flagship coalition plan with SG President J Hudson on Monday.
“I feel that with the direction we’re going with this university, this is something we need to talk about,” Jones said.
College of Humanities and Social Sciences Sen. Marcus Alexander said he met with Facility Services to discuss the results of SG’s light walk that occured Feb. 11.
Alexander said Facility Services agreed the type of lighting in the Quad needs to change to better illuminate more surface area.
“A lot of the stuff we pointed out was already in the works. They’re already working on some of the lighting issues,” Alexander said.
Alexander said SG will have another light walk with Facility Services at the end of the semester.
During the executive branch meeting, SG members discussed how to raise voter turnout. SG Vice President Dani Borel suggested offering food at voting stations, and SG Commissioner of Elections Billy Wright said SG will use many outlets to advertise elections.
SG members also discussed ways to advertise Groovin’ on the Grounds and the preceding wellness festival. Ideas mentioned included posting signs at Baton Rouge businesses and advertising at high schools and on radio programs.
Speaker Pro Tempore Aaron Caffarel also reminded all of the senators to maintain courtesy once the campaign season begins next week.