The Student Government Association held their second Senate meeting of the fall semester on Wednesday night in the Rockwell Pavilion where they began with guest speaker Joe Mendez, director of the UH Emergency Management Bureau, addressing what students should do in a crisis situation and how they can prepare themselves ahead of time.
After the recent spree of gunpoint robberies on or near campus, this has been an issue on the minds of students.
Additionally, former SGA presidential candidate Michael McHugh then addressed the Senate about UH President and Chancellor Renu Khator’s recent ratification of the Gender Expression Non-discrimination and Anti-harassment bill authored and sponsored by former SGA President Michael Harding and McHugh last fall.
The new policy prevents discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression in areas of employment, admission and financial assistance at all campuses within the UH system.
“Students have spearheaded this movement to promote change of historical proportions in this University and we came out victorious,” McHugh said.
After short speeches and a vote by the Senate, three students were confirmed as senators and added to the voting body: Lara Appleby, graduate senator-at-large, Sunil Motwani, Bauer School of Business senator and David Ghably, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences senator.
Positions in the judicial branch were also filled. Sepi Tabrizi was named chief justice and sworn in by President Cedric Bandoh. Tarek Haidar, Danny Alexander and Krystal DeLatte were also appointed to the judicial branch.
After much debate, the SGA budget was passed with a vote of 20. Bylaws required the budget to be passed by Sept. 30. This was the senate’s only opportunity to approve the budget.
The SGA will hold their next meeting at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Rockwell Pavilion.
