Student Assembly

Dear Adam,

Thank you for communicating Student Assembly Resolution 45, “Fostering a United Student Body” and its accompanying Student Life Diversity and Inclusion Plan. I am pleased to know that the SA supports the university’s diversity initiative, Towards New Destinations.

Your cover letter suggests that the Resolution encourages student organizations to implement diversity and inclusion initiatives into their activities, but the plan actually allows the SA to revoke a student organization’s SAO status if the organization does not intend to create a Diversity and Inclusion Plan (DIP) or does not implement in good faith. This communication discrepancy concerns me. Also, while it is true that the SA has legislative authority pertaining to many student organizations and activities, I think the Resolution overstates the authority of the SA vis a vis the Student Activities Office.

I encourage you to partner with the SAO to determine how realistic it is to implement all of the monitoring and training involved in the Plan. You might consider target a sub-set of registered organizations first and then make recommendations or refinements from there.

I appreciate very much the Assembly’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Regards,

David