Senate debates nixing diversity seats

During the Student Senate meeting Monday, senators voted to postpone filling the three diversity senator positions until it can continue its discussion next week.  

Senator of Liberal Arts Sullivan Jones, brought the matter of eliminating the positions up, stating that they weren’t a necessary position.  

Last year, senators created the three senatorial positions to encourage representation of minority voices in Student Senate. Currently, those positions are vacant because last year’s senators graduated. 

“I think that as senators, especially senator of liberal arts, you’re representing all of those students,” Jones said. “If you’re a senator of a dorm, you’re representing all those students in the dorm. As that senator, you can choose how you’re going to represent those students. So, for whatever the purpose diversity senator fills, if you want to become that senator that is fulfilling those goals of the diversity senator, you can feel free to do it. Because essentially, we could have 15 diversity senators de facto.” 

A motion was made to prohibit students from filling the diversity senator position until next week’s meeting was made even though those positions were not planned to be filled until the vacant dorm senator seats were filled, according to Chief Justice Nathan Cronin.  

“It’s about representation,” Student Senate President Isioma Akwanamnye said. “I know we have all of the schools but we want to make sure that we have every voice on campus represented and there are a lot of students that are underrepresented on campus. To be very honest, we have a predominantly white campus and there are students that fall under the cracks and voices that never actually get heard. Let’s not forget that.” 

With a three vote to two vote majority, the motion passed. Senator’s Makenna Metzler, Kelsey Crock, and Jones voted in favor.  

 The discussion to eliminate the position completely was tabled for next week. Students can still apply for the diversity senator position, but they will not be sworn in until a future decision is made.