On Wednesday, Sept. 10, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Student Association (SA) met to swear in new senators, hear from Dean of Students Kara Ostlund on proposed updates to the Interim Chalking Policy, pass a resolution on committee seats and discuss Operation: Riverwatch.
SA President Emma Wittman began the meeting by swearing in new and returning senators. The following individuals were sworn into senator seats: Cole McCue, Krish Neupane, Anna Neuenfeldt, Jordan Bellisle, Tamiya Cornelius, Zach Ydunate, Jolani Lujan, Chyne Vue, Rachael Cooper, Kaaviya Saraboji and Brady Horstmann.
Next, Ostlund spoke with SA about potential changes to the Interim Chalking Policy. After collecting feedback from shared governance groups, specifically from SA and the Academic Staff Council, changes have been made with the hopes of forming a new, more permanent policy for chalking on campus.
While the previous policy only allowed campus groups to chalk two days before an advertised event, the new policy would allow groups to advertise their events up to two weeks in advance. According to the updated policy draft, chalk would be limited to concrete or cement floor surfaces, and in order to better organize approved chalkings, an ID number would be given to groups who are approved to chalk.
While the current policy states that chalk may be cleaned after 48 hours, the updated draft clarifies that facilities will clean up the chalk at noon every Tuesday. If chalk were to be vandalized or accidentally ruined, groups would be authorized to re-chalk without having to begin the application process again.
Ostlund requested input from the senators on whether an appeal process should be added to the policy for denied requests. If there were to be someone reviewing decisions to ensure fairness, Ostlund said the time it would take for chalking to be approved would extend from 24 hours to 72 hours.
Ostlund then opened the floor to questions and comments from the senators. Senator Ladd-Winders asked for clarification as to whether or not there would be a content filter through which requests are approved or denied, to which Ostlund replied that all requests that meet the guidelines will be accepted.
Senators Neuenfeldt and Ayala shared similar opinions on the appeal process and questioned whether the process is necessary when very few requests get denied.
In new business, a resolution by Vice President Cisco Garcia was introduced to appoint senators to the following committees: the Segregated University Fee Allocation Committee (SUFAC), the Academic Initiatives Differential Allocation Committee (AIDAC) and the Joint Planning and Budget Committee (JPB). The body voted to suspend the two-week rule, and the resolution passed.
Ostlund then spoke again for SA to discuss Operation: Riverwatch and the tragic deaths of Hamud Faal in 2022 and Eliotte Hienz earlier this year. Operation Riverwatch is a volunteer-based initiative that seeks to prevent accidental drownings in the Mississippi River in downtown La Crosse. Ostlund asked for volunteers from the Senate to serve in Operation: Riverwatch.
SA will meet again on Wednesday, Sept. 17, to discuss new business.
