At its meeting Tuesday night, UF’s Student Senate approved a resolution in response to the Oct. 24 blackface incident when two Beta Theta Pi brothers painted their bodies black at an off-campus social.
One of the bill’s authors, Sen. Truman Williams, said the intent of the resolution is to educate the Student Body about the issue and give historical context. He said some of the recommendations made during a Town Hall meeting last week should be addressed, but they may not be under Student Senate’s jurisdiction.
Sen. Umair Asghar said resolutions are nonbinding and therefore can include demands. Sen. Morgan Vollrath agreed with Asghar.
“This could get buried next year, and never talk about it again,” Vollrath said.
During the meeting, Senate Cabinet Liaison Andrew Garcia presented a diversity initiative. The initiative includes six Town Hall forums to discuss issues regarding different groups such as black/African-American, LGBTQ, international, disability, Hispanic/Chicano/Latino and Asian-Pacific Islander.
After the forums, a Diversity Action Plan will be implemented.
Senate President Christina Bonarrigo said that as elected representatives of students, the Senate has to respond to problems that may arise. She said she hopes the action plan will be released by Spring semester.
The first Town Hall meeting, which will be about LGBTQ issues, will be Nov. 28.
Contact Samantha Shavell at sshavell@alligator.org.
