Student Government senators began the Fall semester by supporting UF President Kent Fuch’s decision to prevent white nationalist Richard Spencer from renting space on campus.
Brett Oehrle (Impact, District B) said he decided to write the bill after seeing students complaining about it through posts on social media and letters to the editor in the Alligator.
“It was clear students were upset about his potential visit to campus,” Oehrle said. “I thought it was important for SG to reiterate we condemn hate speech.”
Zachariah Chou (Independent, Infinity) raised questions about SG’s visibility. He said he only saw one senator at the student march supporting two separate buildings for the Institute of Black Culture and the Institute of Hispanic-Latino Cultures in July.
Chou also said SG didn’t release a statement regarding Spencer’s potential visit to UF.
“There’s a lot of room for senators to become activists for what they believe in, but most are not doing it,” Chou said.
UF Student Body President Smith Meyers said SG had been advocating for students by hearing their concerns and relaying them to UF administrators.
Chou said Meyers should be more transparent. He said SG should release more statements on social media as issues are debated, instead of after they’re resolved.
“Lots of things the Senate does seem reactive, rather than proactive,” Chou said.
Meyers said his office would look into using social media more often.
Senators also passed a resolution written by the disability advocacy committee congratulating UF’s Disability Resource Center for their hard work.
@taveljimena
jtavel@alligator.org
