Marcus Otero, chair of the Community Affairs Committee, raises his hand during a Student Senate general body meeting Oct. 14 in the Student Government Chambers. Otero is a senator in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation.
The UTA Student Senate introduced two new resolutions during its Tuesday meeting.
Resolution 25-25, “From Vacancy to Victory,” seeks to provide emergency housing to students who are homeless or at risk of homelessness for a set number of days. Vacant residence hall and campus apartment units would be temporary housing for eligible students.
Khondker Sahaf Bin Asif, College of Business senator, asked how many units are actually vacant, and said it was difficult for him to find housing in a campus apartment.
Shravan Venkatesh, College of Science student senator, discusses Resolution 25-26, “The Glitter Haus Act,” during a Student Senate general body meeting Oct. 14. The resolution aims to ensure inclusivity in all aspects of living environments.
“In Timber Brook apartments, if that one unit is empty for one day, it will get filled up,” he said. “It’s that competitive.”
Student Body President Effua Jordan authored the resolution and said that she has been in contact with Kyle Boone, executive director of Housing and residence life.
“He said that there are spaces that are available,” Jordan said. “He’s just trying to figure out a logistical way of having those dorm rooms filled.”
Samuel Duncan, College of Liberal Arts senator, shared his personal testimony, expressing that he’s in favor of the resolution.
Austin Palacios, speaker of the senate, strikes his gavel to move on from a student resolution during a Student Senate general body meeting Oct. 14 in the Student Government Chambers. Resolution 25-26, “The Glitter Haus Act,” was moved to the Special Affairs Committee.
“I see the merit of this resolution, personally,” Duncan said.
Resolution 25-26, “The Glitter Haus Act,” authored by Elwim Sorto, social work graduate student, aims to ensure inclusivity in all aspects of living environments, including safe bathroom access, suite-style living arrangements and residential policies that protect the dignity and privacy of gender-diverse students.
There was a lot of discussion about the legality of the resolution, with Shravan Venkatesh, College of Science senator, mentioning the recent ban on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
“This is about protecting people and making sure that they can have equity,” Sorto said. “If it sounds like DEI, it’s not DEI. It’s cultural competence and it’s human competence.”
Student senators discuss during a Student Senate general body meeting Oct. 14 in the Student Government Chambers. Student senators are selected through campus elections that occur each semester.
Resolution 25-16, “Condom Convenience,” was killed, upon the discovery that adding more condom dispensers would cost too much.
Student Senate also provided research updates on Resolution 25-20, “Textbook Sell Back Drive”; Resolution 25-21, “Analog Manual”; Resolution 25-19, Title IX Don’t Take Mine”; Resolution 25-22, “Thirst for Variety”; Resolution 25-18, “Cultivating Campus Civic Culture”; Resolution 25-23, “Keep the Plan ‘til the Scan”; and Resolution 25-24, “Peace, Prayer, Permanence.”
The next Student Senate meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Oct. 28 in the Student Government Chambers.
@taylormakynzee