SGA House, Senate pass resolutions for student veteran aid, Syria resolution shot down
The Student Government Association's House and Senate passed resolutions aimed at helping and honoring student veterans Monday evening.
In addition to these resolutions, a different proposal declaring the student body’s stance on a war in Syria was shot down.
At the meeting, Senator Sandy Lane introduced resolutions to honor veterans with a veteran cord that may be worn during graduation, explaining that it is a simple red, white and blue cord that student veterans can wear as a symbol of their commitment.
Lane also introduced a resolution to set aside a portion of student housing for student veterans.
“The student veteran population is growing and vets attending orientation have indicated interest in special housing. I’m making this my project,” the Midland student said, indicating his special relationship to veteran issues being a veteran of the first Gulf War.
Both veteran resolutions passed with a unanimous decision after brief discussion on the logistics of the matter.
The resolution to denounce UN military action in Syria and to instead support the pursuit of a non-violent means to resolve the conflict was voted down in the Senate. The House chose to table the resolution thereby throwing it out and not voting upon it at all.
“I feel the SGA can’t fully represent the student body’s political opinion on Syria. It might anger a lot of students, not to mention we don’t know how the international students would feel,” Senator Rebecca Detroyer, a Macomb sophomore, said.
Sen. William Joseph, the Brighton senior who introduced the proposal, said he hadn’t heard anyone say they were against the proposal. He said students were in favor of a peaceful resolution to the conflict there.
After the Syria resolution was opposed in the Senate, Joseph sat in his seat and donned an anti-war T-shirt in protest.
Additionally, the Senate passed a resolution supporting the newly extended hours of the UC.
The resolution to support the UC’s extended hours of operation was originally intended to have the hours extended. Since the university decided to extend the hours after hearing SGA President Marie Reimers proposal, the resolution was changed to say the SGA supports the decision.
All resolutions that were passed by both the House and the Senate have been sent up to the executive level for Reimers to sign off on.
The next SGA meeting is special committee meetings, 7 p.m. on Monday in French Auditorium.
