DeKALB — The Student Government Association received former Senator Luke Galloway’s election concession speech and passed a bill mandating SGA personnel report misconduct.
FORMER SENATOR GALLOWAY CONCESSION SPEECH
Luke Galloway, who ran for student trustee and lost to Mathias Jaikovski, gave remarks officially conceding the election and congratulating Jaikovski.
“He ran a very strong campaign, he was a strong candidate,” Galloway said. “It’s hard for me to accept rejection and failure – it’s always been difficult for me, but this is a time to bring the student body together as opposed to being divisive.”
Summarizing his campaign before the senate, he expressed his wish for them to continue his initiatives.
“I ran a campaign about addressing student social loneliness, about advocating for undocumented students, about affordability,” Galloway said. “I ran to protect our cultural centers on campus and I hope that this is work the student government can carry on because these issues are bigger than one person.”
MANDATED REPORTER BILL
A bill drafted and proposed by Senator Erin Uhrine would mandate that all SGA personnel who witness or become aware of any misconduct on campus would have 48 hours to report the incident to SGA leadership. Failure to do so would result in termination.
“If a student comes to you with concerns or if you are being affected by another senator or a worker of NIU campus, that you feel like you can protect yourself and mandate a report if there is an incident,” Uhrine said.
Uhrine’s bill outlines incidents such as harassment, discrimination, hazing, intimidation, violence, threats to student safety, sexual misconduct and any other violations of university policy as reportable offenses.
All NIU employees are required to report actual or suspected sexual misconduct to the Title IX coordinator. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 forbids sex-based discrimination, a part of which sexual misconduct is considered.
NIU employees are also designated as Campus Security Authorities (CSA) under the Clery Act and are required to report crimes that are classified as Clery-crimes, which include violence, murder, robbery, sex offenses, stalking, liquor, drug, weapons law violations and hate crimes.
Finally, NIU employees are considered mandated reporters and are required by Illinois state law to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
The bill would formally introduce and enforce the undertaking of these practices within SGA.
“We are not above university policies and it is our responsibility to lead with integrity and accountability,” Uhrine said.
Uhrine encouraged her fellow senators to comply with the provisions in the bill.
“It is your job and your purpose to report if an incident happens. You’re not going to wait until weeks later, you’re not going to wait to never report, you’re going to report, diligently, within 24 hours to 48 hours,” Uhrine said.
Senate meeting agendas can be found on Huskie Hub.
The next SGA meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. on April 10 in the Sky Room of the Holmes Student Center.
