Senate bill condemns campus racism
Chris Curtis
Issue date: 12/4/08 Section: Campus
"Racism is not gone because Barack Obama was elected president and this is an example of how this kind of ugliness has really continued," Yensan said. "I just want to say it openly, if you have engaged in this kind of racist activity ... a) you don't belong in this institution, b) you don't belong in any institution and c) we don't want you here."
Senator Maxwell Adepoju, who drafted and sponsored the bill, stressed that the bill's target was not racism but offensive and disrespectful attacks on individuals in general.
Discussion of the bill was not confined to the debate prior to the vote, but re-emerged during the general discussion and open forum period near the end of the meeting, with senators reiterating prior positions and raising new concerns.
The discussion ended with vice president David Bedard reminding the senate to present a united front.
"When a bill comes out of senate, whether you voted for it or against it, it's considered the official stance of the senate and it is understood that you guys support the senate's decision as a whole," Bedard said. "So just keep that in mind when you leave this room."
In other business:
- The senate approved a contingency grant request in the amount of $1,800 for Hillel. The Jewish student organization plans to bring to campus the "Afro-Semitic Experience," a band blending Jewish and African musical traditions, said senator Spencer Ginsberg, a member of the group.
- The senate approved a contingency grant request in the amount of $3,000 for the 500 Family, a student group that works to bring together diverse student groups through programming events. The money will go toward bringing the R&B artist Genuwine campus for a Feb. 13 event in cooperation with several other groups.
Lucas Lussier, a business analyst with the department of business services who manages Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) services on campus gave an update on campus transportation. The university is working with RIPTA to expand shuttle routes and to post schedules for the existing on-campus shuttles. Lussier also announced RIPTA no longer planned to cut the 64-line between Newport and URI.
Senators Jessica Allison, Megan Luther, Spencer Ginsberg, Tim Noble and Amanda LaRocca were elected to next year's senate Elections Committee.
Senator Maxwell Adepoju, who drafted and sponsored the bill, stressed that the bill's target was not racism but offensive and disrespectful attacks on individuals in general.
Discussion of the bill was not confined to the debate prior to the vote, but re-emerged during the general discussion and open forum period near the end of the meeting, with senators reiterating prior positions and raising new concerns.
The discussion ended with vice president David Bedard reminding the senate to present a united front.
"When a bill comes out of senate, whether you voted for it or against it, it's considered the official stance of the senate and it is understood that you guys support the senate's decision as a whole," Bedard said. "So just keep that in mind when you leave this room."
In other business:
- The senate approved a contingency grant request in the amount of $1,800 for Hillel. The Jewish student organization plans to bring to campus the "Afro-Semitic Experience," a band blending Jewish and African musical traditions, said senator Spencer Ginsberg, a member of the group.
- The senate approved a contingency grant request in the amount of $3,000 for the 500 Family, a student group that works to bring together diverse student groups through programming events. The money will go toward bringing the R&B artist Genuwine campus for a Feb. 13 event in cooperation with several other groups.
Lucas Lussier, a business analyst with the department of business services who manages Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) services on campus gave an update on campus transportation. The university is working with RIPTA to expand shuttle routes and to post schedules for the existing on-campus shuttles. Lussier also announced RIPTA no longer planned to cut the 64-line between Newport and URI.
Senators Jessica Allison, Megan Luther, Spencer Ginsberg, Tim Noble and Amanda LaRocca were elected to next year's senate Elections Committee.
