The SGA Senate ratified a new amendment to the its constitution in addition to passing a resolution in the second meeting of the academic year on Sept. 6.

SGA President Price McGiffert and Chief of Staff Charlie Steinmetz’s amendment to establish the office of the vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion was passed via roll call vote with 46 ayes, two not present and two abstentions.

In addition to establishing the office of the vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, the amendment also included revisions throughout the entire constitution by adding first-year counselors to the list of positions available for qualified members and revising the section involving a chief justice’s ability to participate in the selection committee for upcoming associate justices or clerks.

The revisions that were made in addition to those involving the newly created office were grammatical in nature, said McGiffert, a senior majoring in civil engineering.

“Basically, the word was spelled wrong or it was the best way to kind of rearrange the words to have it be perfect,” McGiffert said. “Really, there weren’t many changes.”

McGiffert said this amendment will benefit the campus by allowing the individual in charge more power to act.

“They will have more people under them, they will also have a cabinet and they have the ability to create committees,” McGiffert said. “If there’s anything that the student government can help with, this will be a great position to reach out to.”

The pay scale for the newly created office was discussed at length on two separate occasions. Vice President of Financial Affairs Clay Gaddis said the position will receive the same amount of pay as the other executive council positions.

“It will be an executive council position, and all the executive council gets paid the same minus the president for obvious reasons,” said Gaddis, a sophomore majoring in biology.

As senators began to ask their final questions about the constitutional amendment, a point of privilege was made during the meeting by Graduate Senator Colby Murray, chairman of the Senate ethics and oversight committee. Murray, a graduate student studying public administration, referred to a bill from the 22nd Senate requiring the committee of ethics and oversight to review any project that totals more than $700.

Murray’s inquiry to send the amendment to the oversight committee as a result of the 22nd Senate’s requirement was promptly abandoned when Gaddis responded that the amendment could not be seen until it was passed.

“It’s not financial until it passes,” Gaddis said. “So when it passes, you’ll be glad to see it.”

Senate Parliamentarian Hani Razavi did not deliver a verdict regarding the point of privilege raised by Senator Murray before Gaddis announced the point of privilege could not be further discussed.

The Senate also passed resolution R-22, “commending and thanking Congressman Carl Elliot and Senator Lister Hill for their work in authoring and passing the National Defense Education Act of 1958.” The resolution thanks the individuals for providing people of all statuses the opportunity to pursue an affordable education.

Order of Events
1. Director of Transportation Services Christopher D’Esposito spoke to the Senate about parking and transportation at the University.
2. The Senate passed Resolution R-22-18, “commending and thanking Congressman Carl Elliot and Senator Lister Hill for their work in authoring and passing the National Defense Education Act of 1958.”
3. The Senate ratified Constitutional Amendment C-05-18 via roll call vote to establish the office of the vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion.