A lengthy debate in the Illinois Student Senate over a resolution concerning Women’s and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender programming came to an abrupt end Wednesday night.

During its weekly gathering in which several items for action were on the agenda, members of the student senate could not reach a conclusion on an amendment to split up two segments of the item into separate resolutions.

That is, too many senators left, causing it to lose its quorum.

“When we pass the two and a half hour mark, that’s when we typically lose quorum,” said Justin Umlah, graduate student and student senator for the College of Law. “It’s understandable because students have to leave to prepare for midterms and other obligations they might have.”

In its original form, the resolution states that the Illinois Student Senate supports a measure to include a vote for women’s and LGBT programming as part of the Cultural Programming fee on the fall 2008 ballot.

The item was changed to include the measure on the spring 2009 ballot, and this amendment passed overwhelmingly.

However, Umlah said he was still concerned the resolution, which includes supporting the programming as well as increasing the Cultural Programming fee, might lead to some confusion for students if it was included on the ballot.

He said he believes the focus of the resolution should be narrowed down by splitting the segments into separate items.

“I think students would support including the programming in the fee,” Umlah said Thursday. “But the more choice and options you can give them, the better the resolution.”

Student Senator Dan Weber, sophomore in LAS, agreed that losing quorum at Wednesday’s meeting was not surprising.

With regard to the debate over the resolution, however, he had a different opinion.

“The amendment is a distraction from the original question,” Weber said. “If you want more programming, you’re going to have to pay for it.”

Weber, who co-authored the resolution with Student Senator Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, sophomore in LAS, said the fee is not compulsory, so students could request a refund if they desired.

He said the resolution only called for a $1 increase, and the extra funding was essential for Women’s and LGBT groups to sponsor events that impact the campus.

“In my opinion, the amendment is trying to retroactively weaken the resolution,” Ramirez-Rosa said. “The bottom line is that we want to increase programming on the campus.”

Before the item can be put on the ballot, 7 percent of the student body has to sign a petition supporting its inclusion.

If the measure passes in the student senate however, that number drops to 5 percent. Weber said the delay on action in the senate would not hinder efforts to collect support for the resolution.

“Carlos and I are not going to wait around for the senate,” Weber said. “We’re going to start collecting signatures and grassroots support.”

As for the effects on upcoming student senate meetings, both Umlah and Weber agreed that the delay on this resolution would put members in a tough spot.

With three resolutions from Wednesday still waiting on votes and two more up for action next week, Illinois State Senate members may see more long evenings in the near future.

“It’s better than rushing through and making a mistake or not getting everything out into the open,” Umlah said.

“But we will almost definitely lose quorum next week as well.”