By Amanda Alfanos, Editor-in-Chief
Students won’t see possible changes to university bullying policies until the spring. John Riesenberg, president of Student Government Association, vetoed the anti-bullying legislation senators approved Nov. 30.
The resolution, titled “OCU against Bullying,” was inconsistent with university policy, Riesenberg said.
Riesenberg said John Riggs, dean of students, brought the issue to his attention.
Terminology presented in the resolution doesn’t follow the protocol outline in the Student Code of Conduct, Riggs said in a Dec. 2 e-mail in which Student Publications was copied.
The resolution presented a step-by-step suggestion for how to present instances of bullying to university officials. The suggestion didn’t mention the Office of Student Life, which needs to be amended, said Sen. Caleb Howard (freshman-at-large), and an author of the vetoed resolution. See detailed article about the resolution.
“We resolve that the OCU campus community should gain awareness of bullying and the signs leading up to the act,” the failed resolution reads. “The campus community should unite against bullying and report any instances of to the OCU Campus Police, who will then take necessary action.”
Howard will amend the resolution and re-present it Jan. 11, the first meeting of the spring semester, said Justin DaMetz, president of Student Senate. Senators will then re-vote on the amended resolution and re-present it to university officials.
Sen. Jacilyn Kennedy (freshman-at-large) and co-author of the vetoed resolution, will not participate in the amendment process. She is resigning from her Senate seat effective the week of Dec. 12 due to an increased class load and an executive position in her sorority.
Madi Alexander, political science/philosophy freshman, said passing the resolution is necessary because there is miscommunication between OCU Police Department and student life officials about what defines bullying.
“I think it’s kind of ridiculous that it was vetoed,” she said. “It’s basically a precautionary measure.”
Contributing: Mary Larsh, Contributor
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