After ratifying the new Student Government Association constitution in early September, the SGA Senate immediately began introducing and debating new legislation concerning student privileges, wellness and safety.

The Legislation

Rymer introduces bill adjusting level three violation policy

Sen. Landon Rymer proposed a bill, at the request of the MSMS administration, that would allow students with level three violations to appeal to obtain higher privilege plans one full year after receiving the violation. His bill was initially tabled with the request from the Senate that Rymer discuss this bill more in depth with administration first. In Rymer’s reintroduction of the bill, Sen. Annaliese Coughlin added an amendment preventing students with a level three violation from applying for the highest privilege plan.

Sen. Isabel Beckman voiced her support for Rymer’s bill, stating she has friends who could benefit from it as, though they have received level three violations, they have improved their behavior and are good students academically. Sen. Lillie Thompson also knows people in a similar situation and was in support of this bill as well. Sen. Jaelyn Lister did not believe this bill was necessary. She said being at MSMS is a privilege and not having privileges because of bad behavior was not a big deal. The Senate passed this bill and sent it to administration.

Administration tabled Rymer’s bill, as they wanted him to make some changes that clarify the appeals process to the bill first. Rymer will present the revised bill at a later Senate meeting.

Germany introduces bill adjusting availability of MUW tennis courts for students

Sen. Connor Germany proposed a bill that would allow students to access the MUW tennis courts without a resident assistant or other authority present. His main goal was to set the precedent that resident assistants cannot cite the handbook in denying students use of the MUW tennis courts, even if the handbook doesn’t currently state an authority has to be present.

Sen. Ryan Wei said Germany’s bill was unnecessary and said the requirement for staff to be present at the MUW tennis courts has not been enforced. Sen. Anna Anderson disagreed, citing that Goen Hall Director LaToya Bledsoe has expressed reluctance toward letting her go to the MUW tennis courts without a male present with her. Beckman said there should be another measure of protection, rather than just a resident assistant or other authority; she recommended a buddy system. However, she also brought up that the Residence Life administration may not like this bill. The Senate passed this bill and sent it to administration.

Germany’s bill was not presented to administration, as Director for Student Affairs Stacey Holmes, the day after his bill had passed through the Senate, instated a new rule that tennis players must practice in groups of six or more due to increased safety concerns. Germany’s bill is expected to be revised and reintroduced in the future.

Jackson and Storment introduce resolution encouraging increased signage in cafeteria

Sen. Jolana Jackson and Sen. Bea Storment proposed a resolution with the purpose of deterring the increased presence of MUW students or other Hogarth Dining Hall patrons from sitting on the MSMS side of the cafeteria by getting larger signs stating the MSMS side is for MSMS students and faculty only.

Sen. A. Coughlin was in support of the resolution, stating MUW students need to leave MSMS students alone in the library and in other shared spaces as well. Sen. Minh Nguyen showed some concern over the harsh wording of the resolution, but Jackson and Storment did not accept his amendments to the phrasing. The Senate passed this resolution and sent it to administration.

Administration, though they mostly agreed with what Jackson and Storment were trying to accomplish, tabled this resolution due to its wording. Specifically, Executive Director Ginger Tedder cited it as unprofessional and disrespectful to MUW. Once the wording is changed, Jackson and Storment may introduce this resolution again.

Foster, Rai and Chung introduce bill adjusting wellness seminar requirement

Sen. Sonora Foster, with her co-writers Sen. Anya Rai and Sen. Katie Chung absent from the Senate due to a swim meet, proposed a bill that would void the wellness seminar requirement for students who achieve 20 hours or more of wellness per quarter.

Sen. Anderson was in support of the bill, stating people who have a lot of wellness hours from playing sports still not being able to get their full privileges because they lack a seminar is highly unfair. The Senate passed this bill and sent it to administration.

Administration failed this bill. Holmes said she is working on an organization to help increase the frequency of wellness seminars, and she suggested SGA should help. Administration recommended reintroducing the bill if issues with wellness seminars continue.

Editor’s Note: The Vision Co-Editor-in-Chief Jake Heisler is the president of the Senate and Co-Editor-in-Chief Walt Giesen is a senator. Both edited this article.