Student Senate decided not to write a resolution encouraging administrators to ban Yik Yak use on university Wi-Fi.
The decision comes after schools in states including Iowa, Illinois, New Mexico, and Vermont banned the app, which allows users to post anonymously about people, places and things within a 10-mile radius.
Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond banned the app in October, according to its student newspaper, The Talon.
OCU’s Student Senate considered supporting a ban after a former senator’s expressed concerns in their Oct. 6 meeting.
Demetrio Hernandez, chemistry senior, requested Student Senate take action because he said Yik Yak is a platform for cyber bullying, and racist, sexist and homophobic comments. He said he thought banning the app would protect students’ rights.
A Senate steering committee previously had discussed the app and decided to not get involved.
“Steering said that Senate would not get involved unless the university wants to do something,” Student Senate President Terrance Craft said.
Although the committee already had made a decision, because the app was brought up by a student, Senate reviewed the request and discussed the possibility of writing a resolution.
Senate voted Oct. 30 to uphold the committee’s previous decision. This means Senate will not write a resolution.
The possibility of banning Yik Yak sparked debate at the Student Senate meeting and on the app.
Sen. Brendan Elder (at-large freshman), who was against banning the app, argued that, even if the app was banned on the campus Wi-Fi, students still would use the app on their phones.
“People do not honestly care if Student Senate stands against it or not,” Elder said at the Oct. 30 meeting.
Sen. Nick Rhodes (appropriations chairman), who supported the resolution, said, while banning the app would not eliminate Yik Yak, it would show that the student body does not support it.
Yik Yak users posted after the meeting about the possibility of the ban. One post said: “No group of students can tell me what app I can and cannot use.”
While Yik Yak has created some controversy, Jonathon Davis, vocal music education senior, is not concerned.
“It will blow over,” Davis said. “It won’t stay around that long.”
To read previous stories about Yik Yak, visit mediaocu.com.
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