Student Senate’s General Body met Wednesday to discuss a controversial budget request and campus bigotry.
Chris Medrano Graham, the director of Sorority and Fraternity Life, and Sydney Stephan, the assistant director of Sorority and Fraternity Life, gave a presentation about Greek Life’s demographics, growth, achievements and community service programs.
The Senate then began discussing resolutions.
A budget request failed for office supplies such as snacks, candy for tabling and whiteboard supplies. Governmental Affairs Commissioner Donald Theisen said the Budget Committee previously denied the request.
“Due to changing the landscape, some commissions may be entrusted to do more and bigger tasks than what the Senate has been expected to do in the past,” Theisen said. “Knowing this, we should exert the greatest possible degree of restraint in the last few weeks. It leaves us with a cushion should we need it.”
The budget request was controversial, with members debating whether the snacks and other supplies were needed. Some argued that snacks were necessary to reward themselves, were needed for their health and should be present for guests in the office.
“I believe that food is a basic human right and is not just for me,” International Affairs Senator Taras Tarasun said. “The entire United Nations agrees with me.”
Some argued a new whiteboard was needed to replace the current one, which was falling apart in the office, while others proposed buying materials to fix the whiteboard themselves.
“If we have a reasonable fix to the whiteboard, I swear to you I will run out to Home Depot and I will buy the bolts,” Senator for Accessibility and Accommodation Rees Morris said. “We're an office of communication.”
Senate Bill 2425-10 passed condemning bigotry against any race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and religion on campus.
The bill came as a response to a viral video of students stomping on pride flags at Jefferson Hill and an incident of a student ripping up a Pride Week poster.
“With major changes to OU’s campus likely to occur as a result of Senate Bill 1 alongside the numerous attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion in our federal government, the well-being of our peers is under attack,” Government Affairs Senator Jayson Smith said. “This is one of many instances in history that requires our action.”
Other resolutions passed appointing Evan Serra as the LGBTQIA+ Senator, amending the budget committee and adding an onboarding process.
