In response to the recent issues of diversity and the campus response, SGA passed a bill Thursday intended to emphasize the organization's stance on the issue and to promote cultural awareness on campus.
"Whereas The Elon University community was aghast at discriminatory acts on our own campus, whereas students, faculty, and staff have experienced a loss of comfort on their valued college community and whereas the SGA of Elon University believes in our university's mission statement which demands respect for human differences and promotes personal integrity," the bill reads.
At the recent SGA retreat, the student government decided they wanted to be transparent and show they were making a strong stance against the incidents that occurred.
"It shows constituents that we will not stand for something like this," said Greg Zitelli, vice president for the Class of 2014.
SGA is also forming an ad-hoc committee called the Diversity Committee to deal with future issues.
In other news:
*The location for the homecoming concert featuring Corey Smith was also discussed. Because of the size of the stage necessary to accommodate Smith and his band, the potential location for the concert is the parking lot behind Colonnades, but has not been finalized.
There is some concern about residential areas nearby and the possibility that the concert would have to be shut down early because of noise.
*Following the SGA meeting, three senators went before the judicial committee because of too many absences.
The retreat this past weekend for SGA counted as two absences and the three senators Chelsea Gund, Niema Abdulahi and Connor O'Donnell, all had prior commitments.
Gund was attending a fellowship for her late sister and thus missed both days of the retreat. Abdulahi works on the Student Union Board and at the library and had to work both days of the retreat. O'Donnell went to surprise his mother for her birthday. On the Friday of homecoming he has to help with set up and then be on call until midnight.
*On Tuesday and Wednesday, SGA will be collaborating with Smith Jackson, vice president and dean of Student Life, and President Leo Lambert in forums to discuss the recent racial incidents. The forums will be held at 212 McCoy Commons Tuesday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.