Rationale for SENATE BILL 17-16-17

All,

The University of Akron Undergraduate Student Government has committed to very important initiatives to bring attention to sensitive issues through the Diversity Committee. The Diversity Committee has put on successful USG events, brought attention to diversity issues on campus through projects and legislation, and has been instrumental in solidifying a positive relationship with student organizations on campus. Currently, the Diversity Committee is an ad hoc committee that must be created with an executive order during every new school year. Due to the fact that the Diversity Committee has a long tradition of functioning in USG it would be better to make the Committee a permanent standing committee within our general bylaws. This would allow for the Committee to exist without the need for an executive order. Additionally, it would save valuable time during Senate meetings that is dedicated to continually recreating the Committee during every new school year. This would reaffirm that USG will always have a commitment to diversity for every year the USG continues to function. This amendment to Section B of the General Bylaws would read as such:

(7) General Standing Committees

(a) Diversity Committee

(i) Membership to this committee will be voluntary and may consist of any member of USG

(ii) The chair of the Committee will be appointed by the President of the Undergraduate Student Government prior to the second week of the academic year

(iii) This committee will promote inclusivity and equality for students through events, projects, and legislation

In conclusion, the sponsors of this bill would urge USG to adopt this bill to make the Diversity Committee a permanent standing committee.

Respectfully,

______

Nicholas Golina Collin Hayes

Senator At-Large Senator for the College of Education

USG LEGISLATIVE FORM

LEGISLATION NO.: 17-16-17 SUBJECT: Diversity Committee

SPONSOR (S): Senators Golina, Hayes

DATE INTRODUCED:

A BILL TO MAKE THE DIVERSITY COMMITTEE A PERMANENT STANDING COMMITTEE WITHIN USG.

WHEREAS:THE DIVERSITY COMMITTEE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT GOVERNMENT HAS PLAYED AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN BRINGING ATTENTION TO DIVERSITY ISSUES; AND

WHEREAS:ITS CURRENT STATUS AS AN AD HOC COMMITTEE BRINGS INTO QUESTION WHETHER DIVERSITY ISSUES WILL ALWAYS BE RELEVANT TO USG; AND

WHEREAS:CONTINUING TO HAVE TO RECREATE THE COMMITTEE WITH EXECUTIVE ORDERS IS REDUNDANT SINCE IT HAS BEEN RENEWED EVERY YEAR; AND

WHEREAS:A COMMITTEE THAT SERVES SUCH A VALUABLE FUNCTION WITHIN USG SHOULD MAINTAIN A PERMANENT PLACE WITHIN USG AND THIS CAN BE ENSURED BY AN AMENDMENT TO THE BYLAWS; NOW THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED: THAT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT GOVERNMENT WILL HEREBY AMEND SECTION B OF THE GENERAL BYLAWS IN ORDER TO MAKE THE DIVERSITY COMMITTEE A PERMANENT STANDING COMMITTEE WITHIN USG.

______NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT GOVERNMENT SENATE CONFIRMS SAID ADOPTION OF THIS BILL BY A MAJORITY AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF SENATE AS A WHOLE.

ACTION TAKEN BY SENATE:

USG SENATE CHAIR SIGNATUREDATE

USG PRESIDENT SIGNATURE DATE

FACULTY ADVISOR USG SIGNATURE DATE

VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT SUCCESS OR DESIGNEE SIGNATURE DATE