Student Government Association members considered three bills on April 10th. Gaza ceasefire resolution, the Sabbatical Creation Act, a motion to extend the Thanksgiving holiday. The Student Senate approved his first two, but the latter was rejected and will not go into effect.
How to create a sabbatical
The Sabbatical Creation Act, authored by Subcommittee Chair Adriana Owens, would give “access to sabbaticals” to all three branches of student government: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
“This is not only something that should happen, it needs to happen,” Owens said. “Accessibility on this campus must be improved. Where do we start if we don't start with his SGA legislative body on this campus?”
Amendments to the bill in the Senate allow employees on sabbatical leave to continue to count toward benefits. senate quorum This is to allow the student government to function even if the required number of senators are unable to attend due to sabbaticals.
Student Government members retain voting rights even during sabbatical periods. If a member returns to student government before the end of the sabbatical period, the sabbatical period will end early.
The bill was approved with all senators present voting in favor.
thanksgiving holiday
A resolution to eliminate fall break and extend Thanksgiving break by a full week was rejected by the student senate. After the resolution was introduced by Student Body President Iris Okere and Legislative and Policy Director Valeria Poneto, several senators expressed concern about eliminating fall break, saying that students should not Said period needs to be “recharged”.
Okere, speaking on behalf of the resolution, said WSU's redistribution of break days “will be done in coordination with our sister schools, K-State University and KU.” Student governments at both universities recently made similar adjustments to extend Thanksgiving break by a full week.
Although student government does not have the authority to extend Thanksgiving break, Okere said she plans to speak with the administration and the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) on behalf of the resolution if it passes.
When it came time for debate, several senators voiced their opposition to the resolution. Committee chairs Sens. Jay Thompson and Lily Ahrens noted that fall break is a “good mid-semester break” where students can rest and visit family. Ahrens, an out-of-state student, also spoke about the importance of fall break, especially for art students.
“I think for art students, they have a lot of work to do throughout the semester, so I think it would be really nice to have a little bit of a break (fall break) to be able to catch up on projects and also have some free time.” “You don't have to worry about class,” Ahrens said.
Thompson also mentioned feedback gathered at WSU when the university experimented with recess during the COVID-19 period. This feedback showed that students were more susceptible to burnout if they did not take short and frequent breaks.
Conversely, Business Sen. Sophia Walter said fall break is too short for out-of-state students to go home anyway, and that she and other students would be able to go home for the holidays if the Thanksgiving break was extended. He said it could be done.
Chairwoman Victoria Owens insisted on surveying students to gauge interest in the Thanksgiving holiday. Underserved Sen. Emanuel Brown, who supported Victoria Owen's idea, said he didn't approve of the bill because it could motivate students to continue working hard through the semester “in preparation for fall break.” He also said he was against it.
The motion was rejected with 6 votes in favor, 8 votes against, and 5 abstentions.
The next meeting will be live streamed SGA's YouTube April 17th 6:30pm