Student Government unanimously passed a vote to host a public debate Jan. 31 to educate senators and Boston University students on the sanctions in Iran at their meeting Monday.
The debate will draw some of the most staunchly opposed groups on campus together to debate and converse about the issue at hand, said Aditya Rudra, executive vice president of SG.
“It’s definitely been an issue that has been a dividing force on this campus and an issue that started well before we were born,” Rudra, a School of Management junior, said.
Members of BU Students for Israel and members of the Anti-War Coalition came to an Oct. 15 SG meeting to debate whether the current sanctions in Iran are justified. At the same meeting, SG passed a motion to create a committee to send to activities hosted by both groups.
Zach Herbert, College of Engineering junior, said hosting the debate could set a positive precedent for SG.
“This is more than just us voting on one thing,” Herbert said. “Other groups might be going to ask us to host these [types of] debates.”
SG also heard arguments from a BU’s chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, an international drug policy reform network.
KC Mackey, a College of Arts and Sciences senior, said she wants BU to adapt a “good Samaritan policy” that allows students to call for medical help relating to alcohol- and drug-related health issues without facing punitive action.
“No students seeking medical assistance for an alcohol- or drug-related emergency will be subject to university disciplinary action due to possession or consumption of alcohol,” Mackey said.
Mackey said these are rules that will provide students with the clarity they need to make responsible, life-saving decisions.
“They are not policies that are supposed to reward binge drinking,” she said.
Mackey said Student Health Services, South Campus RHA and the Off Campus Council are just some groups around campus that support this policy.
Mackey also said she hopes BU can incorporate this policy into its Lifebook, which provides rules and guidance on being a member of the BU community.
Emily Talley, a sophomore in the School of Education, said this conversation has the potential to be transformative.
“You [SSDP] should also consider the things you are really trying to combat here which include underage drinking, intoxication, responsibility,” Talley said in the meeting.
Talley said Mackey and her colleagues could make the issue one pertaining to alcohol issues on campus if SSDP were to make it an accountability-based policy.
SG also heard updates on the Towers Planning Committee and its plans to repurpose the basement and dining hall of the Towers residence hall.
Sophia Wodya, vice president of SG internal affairs and CAS senior, said members have been working with the administration to create a new use for the vacant space.
Herbert, president of the BU Residence Hall Association, said there might be two study lounges, a recreation room, a faculty-in-residence, two music rooms, a laundry room for Towers residents and for Bay State Road residences as well as a satellite fitness facility along with some other features.
“It’s difficult because there’s going to be no extra revenue coming in, but there is going to be higher operating expenses for FitRec overall,” said Herbert. “It’s definitely something very likely, and it’s something that something that the entire committee supports.”
Caitlin Seele, SMG junior and SG director of advocacy, said SG has made progress in implementing its holiday bus service which will shuttle students to Logan airport for school breaks.
Seele said SG received survey results from students saying students were willing to pay around $8 for a ticket.
“Realistically, we are thinking of doing the first bus for spring break,” Seele said. “We need time to have a real advertising push because it is so important that we have [enough people].”
The buses will be less expenseive than taking a cab and will make stops in front of various dorms and areas on campus, Seele said.
This is an account occasionally used by the Daily Free Press editors to post archived posts from previous iterations of the site or otherwise for special circumstance publications. See authorship info on the byline at the top of the page.
