Student Senate Doesn’t Pass Legislation Against SB5

These students sat back and watched as Student Senate voted at their Oct. 12 general body meeting to not vote on resolution 1112-10, which would denounce the wording of SB5.

The vote to put the resolution on the meeting’s agenda required a two-thirds majority to pass, however out of the 37 senators present, only 18 voted affirmatively. Ten senators voted to keep the resolution off of the ballot and nine abstained.

Student Senate President Kyle Triplett believes that the results are representative of Senate’s views.

“It was really tough for this body to come on one side of this issue. But … what happened tonight came down to what I think the Senate wants: to be an information source,” he said. “We’re hoping for students to go to the ballot box and really have their voices heard there.”

Student Senate Vice President Roger Jones also agreed with Senate’s decision. “I feel like it was the best decision for Senate … I’m not here to serve the loudest student, I’m here to serve all students,” he said. “I talked to a lot of students, I talked to a lot of faculty and the majority of what I heard was we don’t think students should vote on this.”

Jones further addressed a comment by Jacob Chaffin made earlier in that night’s Student Speak Out that called not voting on the issue “cowardice.”

“If you really believe a certain way,” said Jones, “It would have been cowardice to just follow what people are saying, what they want you to do. And if you believe in something you should stand up for it.”

However, for proponents of voting on the resolution, the loss was a hard blow.

“I think that the issue should be put up before the body; I think it should be voted on yay or nay … that’s my opinion based on experience,” said Former Student Senate member and previous Presidential candidate Chris Wagner. “But this body has their own reasons.”

Tyler Barton agreed with the perceived unfairness of Senate’s decision. “I personally was disappointed … Student Senate has proven repeatedly that they are irrelevant.”

Barton further went to attack the ethicality of Senate. “It was the executive board, Kyle Triplett specifically, [who] was playing tricks. People who weren’t in Kyle’s personal ring were surprised it required a two-thirds vote,” said Barton. “Everyone expected a simple majority.”

However, Triplett maintains that his and Senate’s decorum was in line with Senate rules. “I think that we worked in a very good manner all the way through this … I don’t think any criticism is earned.”

While resolution 1112-10 was not voted on this Wednesday, the issue may not be over in Student Senate.

“A bunch of the other students said we should keep fighting … so that’s what we’re gonna do,” said Barton.