Editor's note: This story was updated at 10:48 p.m. on April 9 to reflect that Bell received five absences.
The Undergraduate Student Congress voted on a resolution to encourage the implementation of an Election Day holiday, recommended OU-Texas Friday to be recognized as the Fall 2024 student holiday and voted to create a polling location on campus.
Red River Holiday Act
The Red River Holiday Act proposes submitting an unscheduled holiday for Friday Oct. 11, 2024. If passed, the holiday submission would need approval from President Harroz and the Board of Regents, according to the regents’ Policy and Procedure Manual.
The Red River holiday would honor the OU-Texas football game which is scheduled for the following day, Oct. 12.
The author, Abby Halsey-Kraus, chair of the Undergraduate Student Congress, said many faculty members have planned to not hold class the Friday before OU/Texas and many students anticipate having this day off.
The act passes with a roll call vote of 21-0-0.
Election Day holiday
The Protection of Student Voting Rights Resolution proposes encouraging the university to create a holiday for Election Day.
Ellie Wolthuis, the Chief of Staff for the Glasscock/Mortazavi administration, wrote this legislation. In the resolution, she said there is no university policy that excuses students from classes to vote. She also said the state of Oklahoma has the lowest youth voter turnout.
The resolution encourages the regents to institute this holiday every four years according to the federal general election. It also recommends the regents change the unscheduled holiday policy.
Halsey-Kraus co-authored this bill. She said SGA is currently allowed one unscheduled holiday a year, but SGA is hoping to expand that to allow for both this holiday and the OU/Texas holiday.
“There is a chance the regents will say no, but that is also why we’re here, to continue advocating on behalf of students,” Halsey-Kraus said.
Halsey-Kraus said this holiday would also benefit out-of-state students, who often are unable go home to vote.
Marilou Bento, external affairs chair, asked why the bill proposes the holiday every four years as opposed to every two years. Halsey-Kraus and Wolthuis said they believed beginning with four years would be most effective in gaining the regents’ support.
The resolution passes with a roll call vote of 21-0-0.
Creating a polling location on campus
The Get OK to Vote Resolution, in collaboration with OK Votes, proposes urging the university to institute a polling location on campus for local, state and federal election days.
Halsey-Kraus wrote this legislation. She said in the resolution that young people face barriers with voting, which include having to work and not being able to get to their polling location, according to Civic Nation.
Halsey-Kraus said part of SGA’s mission statement is promoting civic engagement. She said she hopes to work with the Oklahoma State Election Board and the Cleveland County Election Board to reserve the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom for the polling location.
In response to questions about voting locations and requesting ballots, Halsey-Kraus said there are still many questions to answer, which will need to be determined by the university and OK Votes.
The resolution passes with a roll call vote of 21-0-0.
Expulsion of Anayat Yousuf
Expulsion Bill No. 2 proposes expelling associate Anayat Yousuf due to excessive unexcused absences.
Secretary Carolyn Berggren, the author of the bill, said Yousuf has accumulated nine absences.
According to the SGA Bylaws, members are expelled from Congress after their fourth unexcused absence from general body meetings, committee meetings or required service opportunities.
The bill passes with a roll call vote of 21-0-0.
Expulsion of Hudson Bell
Expulsion Bill No. 3 proposes expelling Hudson Bell due to excessive unexcused absences, in accordance with the SGA Bylaws.
Secretary Carolyn Berggren, the author of the bill, said Bell has accumulated five absences.
The bill passes with a roll call vote of 21-0-0.
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure.
