Student Council members proposed a resolution last night that, if passed, could help University resident advisors better address the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. Council also rescinded a bill proposing the creation of an ad-hoc international student affairs committee.
Council President Matt Schrimper described the proposed resolution as "a broad overview process which would educate RAs of the needs and concerns of the LGBT community."
The proposed resolution would create an optional two-hour training program during RA summer orientation, which would work with the Safe Space network, to teach RAs about how to foster respect and sensibility for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender students, Schrimper said.
According to the University's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Faculty, Staff and Graduate Student Association Web site, the Safe Space network is meant to be a support network for LGBT students. Those involved with the program, according to the Web site, can display a sticker that represents a willingness on the posters' part to provide an "atmosphere of acceptance, respect and assistance."
Schrimper, who proposed the resolution, said the idea for the proposal stems from controversy in the fall surrounding the "not gay" chant at University football games.
"We wanted to address the root of the issue rather than waiting for problems to set in," Schrimper said.
Schrimper noted that Safe Space training is currently offered to RAs in the later portion of the fall semester but added that having a training option in place at an earlier time would both better enable RAs to enroll in the training and better serve students as early as possible.
"From the first day of classes it will set the tone and convey that the University is a community of respect," Schrimper said, noting that, if passed, the resolution would provide the optional training during RA summer orientation.
"Essentially the Safe Space training is offered to RAs later in the fall," Schrimper said, "As a result many RAs have scheduling conflicts."
Although the training would remain optional, as it currently is, Schrimper said he still expects a greater turnout if the proposal passes.
"When RAs are at orientation there are no distractions," Schrimper said, "Unless people have personal reservations every RA should participate."
In addition to the Safe Space-related legislation, Council revisited a formerly proposed piece of legislation regarding the creation of an Ad-Hoc Committee on International Student Affairs to research issues that impact international students.
Council Representative Body Chairman Katie Lee said former Council Rep. Batkhuu Dashnyam -- who spoke to Council in favor of the bill when it was first proposed -- recently decided that the bill should be rescinded, having decided the proposed international student committee would be better implemented as a new contracted independent organization.
"I have a lot of faith in what Batkhuu is doing; he felt that the needs of the community could be better addressed in an contracted independent organization" said College Rep. Sam Davies, co-sponsor of the original resolution. "It is not the death of his idea. I still feel it will function just a well as a CIO."
Council will vote on the Safe Space-related proposal next Tuesday at its regular meeting.
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