The racist incident in Ireland Hall was discussed, five clubs were funded, and student affairs updates were given at the September 12 Undergraduate Student Government general council meeting.
A large portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the racist word that was found in Ireland Hall Wednesday night. Kha Yang, vice president of inclusive excellence, Patricia Conde-Brooks, executive director for campus inclusion and community and Karen Lange, vice president for student affairs, took questions regarding the incident.
It was brought up earlier in the meeting by Conde-Brooks that the first-year class had a 90 percent compliance rate with the newly required 90-minute online anti-bias training.
Viridiana Arevalo Martinez brought up the political campaigning of Trump flags on campus and how it is “jarring to students who don’t believe that is the right thing.”
Lange responded saying that administration is looking at changing the rules on what students can and cannot display during normal years and election years.
Some members of the general council expressed concern about this possible change.
Junior Class President Abby Gureski said, “you don’t want to step on people’s religious freedoms.”
“It’s totally understandable that people are going to disagree on certain terms, parties and political leaders, and that’s okay. Also, we need to be careful that we aren’t excluding people for having a belief,” Gureski said.
A motion to change the name of the Vice President of Diversity position to Vice President of Equity and Inclusion was brought forward. Arevalo Martinez, currently in this position, presented the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Arevalo Martinez said the reason for the proposed change was because the position encompasses more than just diversity issues.
“It better represents the work that USG wants to do when it comes to equity and inclusion,” Arevalo Martinez said.
USG approved internal requests that included $1,176 for African Nations Student Association, $1,260 for Financial Management Association, $640 for Business Law and Compliance and $7,875 for Women in Business. The Saudi Club’s request for $2,388 to host a dinner on campus was also approved.
ROTC members will not have to attend judicial board hearings following the Sept. 12 meeting. The motion was passed unanimously, due to ROTC students not being integral to the board and being busier students than most. This was already in practice, but the motion made it official.
Upcoming elections were discussed during this meeting. Elections packets are due September 17, and elections take place September 24. Open positions include the senior, sophomore and first-year class presidents. Several senator positions also need to be filled.
Conde-Brooks and Lange gave updates about student affairs from the summer. A new “Be Purple” campaign with the athletic department was started to keep students positive with St. Thomas’ athletic conference being uncertain, according to Conde-Brooks.
The Division of Student Affairs also launched an international students campaign video, as well as a video with St. Thomas’ alma mater song.
Conde-Brooks talked about demographic changes on campus in reference to the video that Student Affairs created to recruit international students.
“Our three largest countries [represented on campus] are China, Vietnam and India,” Conde-Brooks said.
Lange and Conde-Brooks said they would update USG on the new residence halls at the next meeting.
Abby Sliva can be reached at sliv7912@stthomas.edu.