On Racism: We're Talking About It
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

On Racism: We're Talking About It

Here's what went down.

13
On Racism: We're Talking About It
Maddi Larsen

Note: This does not cover the whole Associated Students Senate meeting.This is solely about what was on the docket.

Last Sunday at 5:30 in the evening, 18 senators and the members of the Associated Students executive council sat at a blue and red striped horseshoe table and began the last Associated Student Senate meeting of the 2015-2016 academic year.

But this was not like the senate meetings in the past with a small public forum. This meeting had an audience of over 30 students, faculty, brothers, and staff. Due to the past events that have been occurring on campus, particularly involving the Black Student Union, many people from different areas of campus gathered to see what would unfold.

The theme of the senate meeting seemed to be inclusivity. The meeting docket started off with Vice Presidents Bridget Lanigan and Shanel Singh giving a presentation on the 2016-2017 proposed budget. They described their process of determining how much money would go to different clubs and why some clubs would not be allocated money. After a lot of discussion, mainly centering about why the Black Student Union was not allocated any money (and certainly not defunded), this bill passed.

Senators Paula Dulcé and Natalie Manibo then brought up a Resolution to Encourage Support for the Transfer Student Community. They released a survey to the entire transfer community and out of the 172 respondents, "56 percent have expressed dissatisfaction with inclusivity at Saint Mary's." This bill is meant to encourage the community to support the transfer student community, and it passed.

To better give the transfer students a voice, Senators Maddie Yocum and Kiara Grey created the Resolution to Create the Associated Students Transfer Ambassador Program. In the aforementioned survey, transfer students were asked "to rank in order of most desired a: Transfer Ambassador, Advisory Cohort dedicated to transfer students, and an earlier move-in for transfer students during Weekend of Welcome." The Transfer Ambassador position was the most desired. This program would create a new unpaid position for a transfer student from any grade to serve as a liaison to the transfer community as a part of the senate. This bill passed as well.

The final resolution on the docket was a Resolution to Promote Solidarity created by Senators Maggie Lettire and Kavyasri Maddali. This resolution was created as a proposition "to commit ourselves and challenge the Saint Mary's College undergraduate community to stand in solidarity" as well as to show support to marginalized students and strengthen our departmental outreach toward a more diverse population. The main goal is to make students feel comfortable, safe, and included here at Saint Mary's college.

Senator Maddali then addressed every single one of the senators saying that they needed to stand unanimously with this bill because this bill represents what Saint Mary's stands for. The voting for this resolution was originally going to be on paper, but in order to show transparency they voted on how they should vote and they decided to go with hand raising. Fifteen senators voted for it, zero voted against it, and three abstained, so the bill has passed.

These four additional bills, specifically the last three, enforce the idea of inclusive community on our Saint Mary's College campus. While they still need to be put into action by the President's cabinet, hopefully, by passing of these resolutions, we are taking closer steps to building a more inclusive community here at Saint Mary's.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

41675
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

26135
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

951410
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

135299
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments