The University of Michigan Central Student Government passed multiple resolutions Tuesday evening, including amendments to the Statement of Students Rights and Responsibilities regarding medical amnesty for all ages of students and more substances than alcohol, as well as a new definition of “hazing.” In the current statement, medical amnesty is only applicable to minors and when under the influence of alcohol. This resolution aims to expand the definition to encompass other substances as well as people of any age.
As of October 2016, the Michigan Medical Amnesty Law was expanded to include any controlled substance and apply to individuals of any age. Rackham student Nicholas Fadanelli, one of the authors of the resolution, expressed the importance of the resolution and was extremely pleased the resolution passed at the meeting. Fadanelli also said he and the other authors of the resolution were surprised these protections were not aligned with the state law already.
“I am very excited that CSG has agreed to author this amendment … because I think it is very important that we extend these protections to students who have consumed drugs that are not alcohol that need medical attention,” Fadanelli said. “The fact that this is not currently protected under University of Michigan policies is a big shock for me and other authors, and we are very gracious for the support that the other members of CSG and the members of SACUA and other administrators have given us thus far in the process.”
Other resolutions passed put forth a request to the University to create a concrete definition of hazing in the Statement of Students Rights and Responsibilities. In the resolution, the authors stated in the current statement, the definition of hazing is hyperlinked with references to ‘Campus Community Perspectives,’ ‘University Policies’ and ‘Michigan State Law.’
“The lack of a definition for hazing leaves unclear how the Statement will be interpreted,” the Hazing Statement Amendment Resolution read. “The ‘University Policy Against Hazing,’ last updated 2 April 2004, remains the basis for current policy, yet is insufficient to match the contemporary needs of our student body by failing to explicitly define and condemn acts of hazing.”
Both amendments to the statement will be sent to the Students Relations Advisory Committee of the Faculty Senate to be reviewed.
Another resolution that was passed advocated the University to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. CSG called on University President Mark Schlissel to allocate further funding and staffing necessary to tackle what he deems necessary to address the issue.
With the failed resolution in Ann Arbor’s City Council to fund efforts to reduce climate change in November and Schlissel’s announcement at the Leadership Breakfast this October to pledge to carbon neutrality, CSG’s resolution comes at a critical time in the climate change debate where some students believe not enough is being done by the University and city of Ann Arbor to set concrete goals for reaching carbon neutrality.
Before passing the resolution, Austin Glass, CSG Speaker of the Assembly, reminded the assembly this is a goal that many other Big 10 Universities have already agreed to try and meet.
“Part of the resolution is asking leadership at the University, especially President Schlissel, to sign onto this goal that other peer institutions and Big 10 allies that have already signed onto,” Glass said. “In case it’s relevant to anyone, Ohio State has already signed.”
The approved resolution will be sent to and discussed with Schlissel, the Board of Regents and additional members of University leadership as recommended. It will also be presented at the upcoming Regents’ Meeting on Dec. 6.
The meeting concluded with members of the assembly giving announcements. LSA junior Priscilla Huddleston wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving, but added a caveat of acknowledging the colonial history of the holiday against Native populations in the United States.
“Have a Happy Thanksgiving, once again. Celebrate whatever you want, just don’t celebrate genocide,” Huddleston said.