Senator Abel Valencia

Author:

Senator Abel Valencia

Sponsors:

Senator Eric Kinney

Senator Joseph Flores

Senator Shanna Schultz

First Reading: April 18th 2011

S.R.S. 2010-2011/20

“Declaration of “Texas State LGBTQ Week”

WHEREAS:The Associated Student Government serves the interest of all students at Texas State University-San Marcos; and

WHEREAS:Texas State University-San Marcos welcomes and encourages diversity and equal access for all students; and

WHEREAS:The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs serves to provide academic, cultural and personal support for underrepresented students; and

WHEREAS:The university has made great strides to be inclusive of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) community; and

WHEREAS:A notable amount of students identify as an LGBTQ individual; and

WHEREAS:Many students may not feel safe or welcome as an LGBTQ individual; and

WHEREAS:Some groups, in an organized or individual capacity, express discontent and hostility towards members of the LGBTQ community; and

WHEREAS:The Allies of Texas State is a program that seeks to create and sustain “safe places,” places where LGBTQ students, faculty and staff can speak with an Ally in confidence; and

WHEREAS:Allies of Texas State also seeks to include LGBTQ individuals in all aspects of campus life; and

WHEREAS:Lambda of Texas State, a registered student organization, seeks to provide a safe means of building a community with the LGBTQ students of Texas State; and

WHEREAS:The LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index ranks Texas State 3 out of 5 stars, with the lowest points of reference being: policy inclusion, support and institutional commitment, academic life, housing and residence life, recruitment and retention efforts; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED:That the first full week in March of every spring semester be “Texas State LGBTQ Week;” and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:That the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs coordinate with Allies of Texas State to research the feasibility of instituting a four-day series of educational workshops related to gender identity/gender neutral language, LGBTQ life in residence halls, on-campus resources for LGBTQ students, overcoming stereotypes, policy inclusion and anti-LGBTQ laws, the reality of bullying, safe sex practices, self-defense courses, similarities of homo/heterosexual, and any other relevant topic; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:That high consideration to cost from student fees be given; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:That Lambda of Texas State be included in the planning, coordination and execution of any such series of educational workshops; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:That if such a program could be executed, evaluation and the prospect of continuation of the program be forwarded to the Associated Student Government; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:That this legislation be forwarded to ASG Advisor Kathy Weiser, Dean of Students Dr. Margarita Arellano, Lambda of Texas State co-presidents Brandy Williams and Charles Hallmark, Lambda of Texas State faculty advisor Manda Anderson, Allies of Texas State co-chair Jesse Silva and Heather Aidala, Director of Multicultural Student Affairs Dr. Sherri Benn, Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Joanne Smith, and President Dr. Denise Trauth.