Spring Break
Student Senate will again discuss diversity requirement
Questions remain over what counts as 'diversity'
Bob Bajek / Student Government Editor
Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: News
The Student Senate will review the diversity involvement requirement bylaw change for the third time this year at the 7 p.m. meeting in the Arcola/Tuscola Room in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.
At the Feb. 11 meeting, the senate did not pass the bylaw change with 14-7 vote with one abstention. One more vote was needed for a two-thirds majority to pass the change.
Student Senate member Mike Whildin was the lone abstaining vote.
Kendall Jackson, a sophomore family and consumer sciences major, was one of about two dozen Black Student Union members who protested the diversity requirement being removed from the bylaws.
He was also elected last week to serve on next year's senate.
Jackson said the authors Mark Olendzki and Tiffany Turner took into account the minority student organizations' concerns regarding the word "diversity" being removed.
Even though Jackson agrees with most of the wording, he said there is still some work to do.
"The wording still doesn't sit well with me," Jackson said. "Overall, the message is similar to the previous one, but the way it is worded and how some people interpret wording can go a certain way. Some members might not want to complete it.
"Basically, when I think of diversity, I think about stepping outside your comfort zone."
One thing Jackson said he disagrees with is that some senate members feel that Greeks should count as diverse.
Other items on the agenda include releasing $500 for the Live Line demonstration that took place April 7.
Student Senate Speaker Drew Griffin said the money does not have to be collected until April 25.
Griffin also said T-shirts for Panther Service Day is marked as emergency legislation. He said Student Government will pay $800 for the shirts while the Student Community Service Office will pay the remaining $450. For the shirts to be distributed well, Griffin said the proposal has to be voted upon this meeting.
Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7942 or at rtbajek@eiu.edu.
At the Feb. 11 meeting, the senate did not pass the bylaw change with 14-7 vote with one abstention. One more vote was needed for a two-thirds majority to pass the change.
Student Senate member Mike Whildin was the lone abstaining vote.
Kendall Jackson, a sophomore family and consumer sciences major, was one of about two dozen Black Student Union members who protested the diversity requirement being removed from the bylaws.
He was also elected last week to serve on next year's senate.
Jackson said the authors Mark Olendzki and Tiffany Turner took into account the minority student organizations' concerns regarding the word "diversity" being removed.
Even though Jackson agrees with most of the wording, he said there is still some work to do.
"The wording still doesn't sit well with me," Jackson said. "Overall, the message is similar to the previous one, but the way it is worded and how some people interpret wording can go a certain way. Some members might not want to complete it.
"Basically, when I think of diversity, I think about stepping outside your comfort zone."
One thing Jackson said he disagrees with is that some senate members feel that Greeks should count as diverse.
Other items on the agenda include releasing $500 for the Live Line demonstration that took place April 7.
Student Senate Speaker Drew Griffin said the money does not have to be collected until April 25.
Griffin also said T-shirts for Panther Service Day is marked as emergency legislation. He said Student Government will pay $800 for the shirts while the Student Community Service Office will pay the remaining $450. For the shirts to be distributed well, Griffin said the proposal has to be voted upon this meeting.
Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7942 or at rtbajek@eiu.edu.
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