Mitch Dickey, sophomore in LAS, stepped up and took charge of his first meeting before assuming his post as newly elected president next week, as the Illinois Student Senate continued discussion on what to inscribe on the three plaques for the Campus Monuments and Landmarks Initiative. 

The senate allocated around $6,800 to add world flags and commemorative plaques at the Activities and Recreation Center, Campus Recreation Center East and the Ice Arena. 

However, at the April 2 ISS meeting, senators could not agree on the language to place on the plaque, and several senators thought it was unfair to list the names of executive members on the plaque. 

Debate continued Wednesday. The statement, as approved from the Office of the Dean of Students, read “The above Illinois Cultural Heritage Mural was presented to celebrate the many voices and cultural diversification of the University of Illinois Student Body presented by the 10th Assembly of the Illinois Student Senate.” It then went on to list the names of the executive board. 

A statement, proposed by senator Kevin Seymour, graduate student, read: “This mural/flag was endorsed by the 10th Assembly of the Illinois Student Senate to celebrate the Student Body’s ongoing commitment to a diverse, inclusive University — to embody the fundamental principle that our differences are what make us strong.” 

It did not include the names of the executive board.

Senator Calvin Lear, graduate student, and Seymour moved to rescind the request of the Office of the Dean of Students to decide the language in order to avoid their statement. 

“We need to cut the Office of the Dean of Students out of the situation and let ourselves decide. The only way we can do that is by rescinding the bill,” Seymour said. 

Senator Rachel Heller, junior in LAS,  expressed her “disappointment of the behavior of the student senators at the second-to-last meeting of the 10th assembly.” 

She said there was no reason to have another discussion about this resolution at the transition meeting next week when it should “be honoring the new people of the 11th Assembly.”

Vice President-External Carey Ash agreed.

“There is too much pride in this room. There is too much puffering in this room, and some time today the air has to be let out of this balloon,” he said. “There has been bickering and debate and a loss of substance in this body. The first rule of being a senator is that you let no one beat up on your baby. … This has gone too far. The debate on this floor has not been one time about cultural diversity or the University’s principles, its been about whether or not [the executive board] should be named.”

With 6 yeas, 17 nays and one abstention, the senate voted not to rescind the resolution. 

Senator Tony Fiorentino, graduate student, said Sen. Dick Durbin would not be able to attend the town hall meeting at the end of the semester to discuss student debt as originally planned, but he has an “iron clad commitment” to visit the campus in the fall.

Edward can be reached at [email protected].