Senate Spotlight - 13 April 2022

The following consists of information regarding an executive order by the Butler University Student Government Association’s Student Senate. Meetings reoccur Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in the Reilly Room located in Atherton Union.

Morgan Ross | maross2@butler.edu 

This past Wednesday SGA’s last senate meeting of the semester was held covering several topics of discussion.

Becca Mattson, the head of BUD, reintroduced a Resolution to Collaborate with Bulldogs for Universal Design. This resolution was originally passed without the approval of BUD. The main issue for the establishment of such a resolution is that braille is not available at dining places or is placed inconveniently, there is no pavement on campus, and throughout campus, accessibility buttons do not function correctly. Mattson spoke on behalf of this resolution, originally unaware of the change for students with disabilities. With a passion to create a change within the organization, Mattson urged senators to vote in affirmation.

[SR Resolution to Collaborate with Bulldogs for Universal Design, PASSED]

Following this resolution, the senate moved on to voting on a Resolution to Ratify Butler University SGA Charter. This resolution calls for a rechartering of the organization’s three-branch system for significant changes regarding reconstruction. The last charter of Butler’s Student Government took place in 1977, after its original charter in 1929.

[SR Resolution to Ratify Butler University SGA Charter, PASSED]

With the upcoming academic year starting in the fall, SGA is making an effort to reconstruct Atherton Union and the common spaces surrounding it. When not attending class, students love to take advantage of the variety of areas around campus where they can work, rest, or hang out with friends. With that in mind, SGA wants to turn Atherton Union into a better hang-out space, acting as a “student living room” that provides comfort to everyone. Funding for this resolution would aid SGA in getting the materials, resources, and architectural design necessary to achieve the latter.

[SR Resolution to Provide Funding for the Research of Atherton Union Common, PASSED]

Finally, the Senate turned to discuss the last introduced resolution. The bill would let the head of SGA committees not be senators. For instance, it would allow an individual from the diversity center to be the head of the DEI committee because they would have more knowledge about what the DC does than a regular senator. The chairs must attend senate meetings but cannot vote. This resolution was extended to a longer time frame to discuss. 

[SR Resolution to Amend SGA Constitution on Steering Committee Chairs, FAILED]