The Undergraduate Student Congress recognized Women’s History Month, revised its public relations committee and passed a resolution to protect chalking at its Tuesday meeting.
Chalking resolution
The news: Congress passed a resolution to protect chalking on campus. The protection ensured it will remain a legal activity and has no potential of being banned, according to the bill.
Chalking is defined as ‘the act of using chalk to display messages regarding events, meetings, and other information’ according to the bill. Chalking is used by student organizations to advertise events, announce meeting times and spread messages.
What they’re saying: Tatiana Esteva-Ingram, Graduate Student Senate external and legislative affairs committee vice chair, stated the purpose of the bill regarding the use of chalk on the university’s campus and its impact on student life.
“Chalking is a pretty big part of campus living, regarding messaging from (registered student organizations)s…, ” Esteva-Ingram said. “I always find looking at the chalk that it's nostalgic. I feel like it's, again, a really great way to interact with the communities.”
Benjamin Fellman, Graduate Student Senate sustainability committee chair said OU had clear protections in place for chalking after it was banned at other universities. He said in order for chalking to be done, registered student organizations must submit requests to the university through Engage to be approved.
“Many of the reasons why they decided to ban chalk was due to the inappropriate use of it. Now what we have at the University of Oklahoma are clear protections in place,” Fellman said. “We are not trying to do anything with regard to the rules and regulations that are in place, and that is clearly stated in our bill. But what we want to do is just ensure that chalking remains the fundamental thing that students can have access for.”
The vote: Congress passed the resolution with a vote of 39-0-0.
Women’s History Month resolution
The news: Congress passed a resolution recognizing March as Women’s History Month. Additionally, it encouraged students to learn more about women’s history and gender disparities.
What they’re saying: Associate Madilynn Sneller said the bill matters to her because of the women influences in her life, including her mother who is an OU alum.
“The main reason that I select this bill, especially for Women's History Month, is women have been such a big part of my life in literally everything I do,” Sneller said.
In the resolution, Sneller recognizes the accomplishments of women in the community. OU has an enrolled postgraduate population of 55.96% female students and awarded 7,577 degrees in which 53.5% were earned by women, according to the bill.
“I know so many of you in this room, if not every single one of you, have owed something you've accomplished in your life to a woman, and if you're saying you don't, I know you're lying,” Sneller said.
Sneller highlighted issues in her bill, such as gender violence, discrimination, pay gaps and healthcare discrimination.
The vote: Congress passed the resolution with a vote of 39-0-0.
SGA Public Relations Committee Revision Act
The news: Congress updated the Student Government Association Code Annotated to provide flexibility in public relations committee membership and structure.
In an effort to restructure membership, the director of communications was replaced by designee(s) appointed by the SGA president. The vice chair of public relations for the Crimson Leadership Association position was also removed.
The SGA chief of staff will coordinate the first meeting of the public relations committee each semester. Members of the public relations committee will conduct a majority vote in order to elect a chair. The chair shall be responsible for establishing meeting times, maintaining committee functions and may be removed by majority vote during a regularly scheduled meeting.
What they’re saying: Henry Christiansen, SGA chief of staff, said the purpose of the revision was to help the committee function better and give it more leadership.
Christiansen clarified that the public relations committee, as well as all of SGA, is still subject to the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act.
The vote: Congress passed the revision with a vote of 39-0-0.
Endometriosis Awareness Month resolution
The news: Congress passed a resolution recognizing March as Endometriosis Awareness Month and encouraged students to learn about and understand the condition.
What they’re saying: Kayla Hawley, Journalism and Mass Communication representative, said this resolution formally recognizes March as Endometriosis Awareness Month and explained what endometriosis is.
Endometriosis is a chronic disease in which tissue similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus and often affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis.
“It is ranked as one of the most painful conditions that someone can have; it is a full-body condition, and has been found in every single organ, including the brain. It can take between four and 11 years to diagnose. For reference, I took seven years to get diagnosed, and that's considered by a lot of people, the only way to be formally diagnosed is through surgery, and there is no known cure,” Hawley said.
Hawley said there is little funding, research or resources for endometriosis, so it is important to spread awareness.
The vote: Congress passed the resolution with a vote of 39-0-0.
This story was edited by Macey Thaxton.
