AUSA Senate discussed a resolution to amend and enhance university policies on religious inclusiveness during its weekly meeting last Tuesday in Driscoll Gallery.
The resolution was under discussion for about 20 minutes before it was passed in a 16-1 vote.
Sen. Grant Goerzen voted against the resolution.
“Sending a negative resolution will solely make them angry and nothing will happen as opposed to productive conversations,” Goerzen said.
Resolution 7C, put forward by Sen. Joel Portman and the Diversity Committee, was the product of ongoing campus discussion on the need for DU policy that would foster greater acceptance and accommodation of all religious communities on campus.
The resolution calls for the university administration’s increased prioritization of that policy so that results can be seen by next school year.
The resolution met with resistance when put on the Senate floor for discussion.
Many senators thought the resolution’s strong language and impatient tone would be off-putting to administrators and might actually hinder Senate’s efforts for university policy action.
“We need to be positive as I don’t believe [university administration] respond[s] well to passive aggressive language,” said Sen. President Joey Ham.
The Senate went on to pass two other resolutions, one amending the process of appointing chairs of the athletics committee and the other supporting an upcoming student environmental initiative and three bills funding upcoming projects and events.
One of the bills passed granted $700 to Denver’s Road Home for the sposorhip of a parking meter.
Brandon Danko of Denver’s Road Home in conjunction with Daniels College of Business’ MBA group presented the project. The city-wide project is part of an effort to provide housing in Denver for homeless people.
The parking meter project allows organizations and companies to donate $1,000 to United Way through the sponsorship of Denver parking meters.
The parking meter sponsored by DU is located on the corner of University Boulevard and Evans Avenue. It will not be altered to show who sponsered it.
“It’s not about recognition. Its about building a movement on campus,” Danko said.
Proceeds from the sponsored meters are used to find shelter for homeless men and women.
The Senate also discussed funding the $15,000 remodeling of Centennial Halls Lounge in the near future.
“It’s a very common area, but there haven’t been a lot of updates to it. We’re looking at how to truly make it a DU feel in that lounge,” said Sen. Troy Hoshimoto of the project.
Future events and projects were discussed during the meeting and two new student organizations, the Chinese Student and Scholars Association and Photography Club, were approved by a unanimous vote.
