This legislation was created on Tue, 09/22/2009 - 6:39pm.
This legislation is in the Approved by Senate state.
This has been approved by the Senate and is pending a decision by the Executive Board at this point.
WHEREAS the mission statement of SUNY New Paltz asserts that the college is “dedicated to the construction of a vibrant intellectual/creative public forum which reflects and celebrates the diversity of our society”; and
WHEREAS the mission of the Student Association states that its purpose is to “represent and advocate for the student body,” and provide “educational and social activities for the entire campus community”; and
WHEREAS the Student Senate is one such activity; and
WHEREAS a purpose of the Student Senate is to represent all members of the student body in a fair and just manner; and
WHEREAS it is commonplace in our society to use imprecise language when describing or referring to people and/or objects such as the use of “gay” or “retarded” to describe things that one finds displeasing or negative; and
WHEREAS use of language in this way can be considered offensive – it degrades and marginalizes specific groups of people by making them synonymous with negative attributes, thereby reinforcing existing power structures, while simultaneously reinforcing ideologies behind heterosexism and ableism; and
WHEREAS this use of language and its negative consequences undermines both the mission of SUNY New Paltz and the Student Association; therefore the 48th Student Senate proposes
A Declaration
Be it DECLARED: In support of creating a friendlier, more comfortable environment that is both conducive to positive growth and intolerant of the devaluation or degradation of any group of individual, the Student Senate of SUNY New Paltz respectfully and humbly request that the members of the campus community practice mindfulness in their choice of diction, especially when in the conduct of any variety of official business.
