Student Congress approves emergency funds, hears gender-neutral housing proposal

New appointees to several positions in student government and emergency funding for two student groups were approved during a busy Undergraduate Student Congress meeting Tuesday.

Student Congress approved $540 of funding to be distributed to the Medical Ethics and Issues Panel and the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students. The panel requested $240 for programs or events while the association requested $300 for office and general expenses, according to the agenda.

Student Congress also approved student members appointed to the Parking Appeals Board, a Superior Court Justice, the spring 2012 Election Board and 14 student liaisons.

The new parking appeals members and Superior Court justice have already been approved by the Graduate Student Senate, so only UOSA's executive office needs to approve them for their positions to become official.

In other business, Student Congress approved an increase in the time students serve on the Parking Appeals Board to student tenure. Students serving on the board will now be allowed to serve the entire time they are students at the university, according to the bill. They can only be removed through impeachment or resignation.

Before handling 10 agenda items, Congress heard from Arielle Foldoe, a member of Students for a Democratic Society.

Foldoe spoke to Congress about a gender-neutral housing proposal the organization will submit to David Boren's office after a rally on March 7.

The student organization will request that one floor of university-run student residences be allowed for students to choose which gender they live with, Foldoe said. If the floor was approved, incoming freshmen would be able to request gender-neutral housing, which would allow them to live with the gender of their choice, according to the proposal. The reasoning behind this is to ensure gay, lesbian and transgender students are not exposed to uncomfortable or potentially dangerous living conditions, Foldoe said.

The student group requested the meeting with Student Congress to inform them of the proposal and to hopefully get the body's support, Foldoe said.

After Foldoe's presentation, Alyssa Loveless, Student Congress chairwoman, said the issue of a possible resolution regarding the gender-neutral housing issue will be submitted to the Problems and Projects committee.

Student Congress' next meeting begins at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 in Adams Hall, Room 150.

Chase Cook

Chase is a former staff member of The Oklahoma Daily who worked as Staff Writer, Managing Editor, Editor in Chief, Managing Editor and Assistant Campus Editor.