Last night, Student Council voted down a resolution to promote social and political activism by a vote of six to eight after a period of debate.
The resolution encouraged faculty to consider being more lenient with students who wished "to participate in direct social and political action both within and outside of the University Community."
Although there are 28 voting representatives on Council, only 14 voting members were present for the representative body portion of the Council meeting. In order to reach the two-thirds quorum of 19, many representatives had non-voting proxies substitute for them at the meeting. Proxies can not vote on resolutions.
Council President Micah Schwartz was among those who had a proxy representative sit in for him at the meeting.
"Unfortunately, the Vice President of Student Affairs Office scheduled a mediation forum about elections at the same time as the representative body meeting, so many Council representatives were unable to attend," Schwartz said.
Lela Graham, a resolution sponsor and representative from the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, said she thought the resolution would have had a better chance of passing if all the members had been present.
Several opponents of the resolution, including Graduate Education Rep. Lee Hark, expressed concern that it was not within the scope of Council's power to determine classroom policies for faculty.
"I don't feel like it's our job to dictate in any way how professors run their classrooms," Hark said.
Proponents contended the resolution does not force faculty to condone skipping class, but instead attempts to raise awareness of student politics and encourages faculty to foster a socially and politically stimulating environment.
College Rep. Gretchen Downey said the resolution "promotes responsible activism" among students.
"This would encourage students to talk to their professors before class instead of just skipping," she said.
Engineering School Rep. Connor Fee said, however, that he was afraid the resolution would encourage students to skip classes.
"Why should we be asking students to get out of class when that is why we are here?" Fee asked.
Architecture School Rep. Kevin Hanlon also said he didn't understand why the resolution was necessary.
College Rep. Clayton Powers said he supported the resolution and thinks it is Council's job to protect the students' voice in situations involving political action.
"We need to take what students want and put it in a constructive form," Powers said. "What better way than to help the students say it themselves?"
Graham said she will try to propose the resolution or one similar to it again soon.
"I feel strongly about this," Graham said. "This is a precedent [for political activism] that needs to be set."
Council Executive Vice President Ronnie Mayhew said one of the eight representatives who voted against the resolution last night would have to propose it again, in order for the same resolution to be considered again.
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