Student Senate discussed revisions to the Student Code of Conduct relating to Greek life Tuesday afternoon.
A section in the Code of Conduct discusses a Greek organizations right to deal with issues concerning an individual in the chapter through an internal governing structure. The university doesn’t want parents of a student kicked out of a Greek chapter trying to sue the school, so it adopted a “hands-off” policy to protect itself legally, explained Student Body President Taylor Russ.
Some Senators are worried the section is too ambiguous and that by re-wording it, individual Greek chapters will be empowered and the school will be more protected from legal issues. Although the administration turned down the revision once, the Senate passed a decision to send the revision back to President R. Gerald Turner for further consideration.
In other business, Shakeel Mehdi spoke on behalf of the Muslim Student Association to get the Senate’s help in improving the conditions of the Wudhu, a room where Islamic students wash their hands, face, and feet before prayer. Mehdi says they need “a sink instead of a hose, and to move the brooms and mops out of there.”
The Senate also discussed using part of the budget to provide better security for The Center for Inter-Community Experience, or The ICE House. The ICE House is a place where SMU students live off campus to tutor and mentor kids in the community on lower Greenville.
Because the house is located off campus, the SMU police department does not provide aid or protection. A car was stolen recently from the house, and the students living there are requesting cameras and a better security system.
The Senate will take another look at the issue in future meetings.
Chief of Staff Katie White took nominations for the By-Law Committee, and Senators Reed Hansen and Jonathan Lane were voted the new chairs.
Two resolutions were passed today.
The first resolution asks the Administrators to reevaluate the prerequisites for granting internship credit to underclassmen. The second recognizes the work of Reverend Robert Graetz, a civil rights activist, and Jerry Levias, the first black football player in the southwest conference and a graduate from SMU.
