The Illinois Student Senate passed a resolution in regards to Title IX Wednesday, in support of having student adjudicators sit on panels for Title IX sexual assault hearings on campus,

Currently, the University allows for students to serve on panels. Vice President-External Matt Hill and Vice President-Internal Sarah Hochman believe the presence of students on panels has offered a vital peer perspective.

Title IX, a federal civil right, prohibits sexual discrimination in education and addresses acts of sexual violence. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights made a recommendation to universities nationwide in 2014 that students be removed as adjudicators in hearings of sexual assault cases at universities.

ISS’s resolution was proposed in an effort to clarify the stance that the student senate is in support of maintaining the current system, which allows student adjudicators to sit on panels for sexual assault after going through training.

Hill spoke in support of the resolution and said the student senate will try to maintain as much shared governance as they can in the processes.

“We really think it’s important to have this resolution to say that we want student adjudicators in all parts of sexual assault hearings,” said Hill. “We can say to someone that on behalf of the student body, we believe this. That’s going to carry a lot of weight.”

An amendment was made to the resolution that suggested the University acknowledge the recommendation. It also aims to keep student adjudicators a part of the process and to strive for additional training for student adjudicators. The amended resolution passed.

Additionally, the student senate passed a resolution to lower the amount of signatures needed to place questions regarding the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District on the student referendum in March.

The questions normally need seven percent of the student bodies’ signatures to be placed on the referendum. However, the senate’s backing lowers the threshold to five percent.

The questions will address the retainment of the CUMTD service at a fee of $1 more per student. The second proposition would “provide a new bus route to serve Central Campus, FAR/PAR, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.”

During public comment, Champaign Mayor Don Gerard made spoke to student senators about his emergency order issued this week as the liquor commissioner. The order gave regulations about liquor purchases and bar entry ages on Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day, which will take place on March 6. He also urged students to get out and vote in the next Champaign mayoral election, which will take place April 7.

President Mitch Dickey also noted he would be working with his assistants to come out with an “Official Guide to Unofficial,” to notify students of the rules from Mayor Gerard’s emergency order.

Charlotte can be reached at [email protected].