SGA formally opposes Sedgwick County resolution
The SGA senators listen to the cabinet during the SGA meeting on Wednesday evening.
After heated debate, the SGA passed a resolution Wednesday by a vote of 31-3 formally opposing a Sedgwick County resolution aimed at removing state residency from undocumented students who graduated from Kansas high schools.
The Sedgwick County resolution 16-363, which passed in June 2016, is a recommendation to the state that, if passed, would prevent undocumented students from having the option of paying in-state tuition to attend Kansas universities.
Such legislation would impact several undocumented students at Wichita State.
The resolution stated that the SGA presidential cabinet would “continue to advocate for subsided tuition for undocumented students seeking education to better themselves, their future, and the future of our nation.”
Current political tensions regarding immigration made the resolution an inflammatory topic.
“(WSU President John Bardo) just released a statement that said there is no border, there is no wall that can separate the intelligence and the talent that we have coming into this university,” Student Body President Joseph Shepard said. “I think aligning with the president of the university calls on me to represent those constituents who need a voice.”
Emotions ran high as senators debated whether or not formal opposition from the SGA would be appropriate or meaningful.
“Our duty as senators is to advocate for our students,” Senator Zubair Khan said. “These students are Shockers, and as our constituents, we must advocate on their behalf.”
Other senators felt that SGA was overstepping its bounds by pushing its agenda on Sedgwick County and that the resolution would fall on deaf ears.
“SGA trying to speak out against actual legislation while having no impact on it is a waste of our time and energy,” said Senator Calin Otsbey.
“This ideology that we’re just students and we don’t hold a lot of weigh is just wrong,” Shepard said, citing SGA accomplishments such as the passage of the Lifeline 911 bill.
Despite the vigorous debate on Wednesday, the SGA resolution to oppose Sedgwick County’s position passed in a landslide and is now recognized as the official stance towards Resolution 16-363.
Matthew Kelly is a former editor-in-chief and managing editor for The Sunflower. Kelly graduated in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in political science...
Hannah Roberts was a photographer for The Sunflower. Roberts majored in entrepreneurship and minored in communications. She was born and raised in Wichita,...
Real Shocker • Feb 13, 2017 at 1:00 pm
When Bardo wrote the following on February 3rd he mentioned the LGBTQ community fearing advances will be lost. He notes, “I want to make it clear that Wichita State stands with the DACA students and the others who add so much to the energy and intellect of our campus and the future of our democracy and economy.”
The note makes that seem like WSU stands with the LGBTQ community as “others”. Why then would Bardo allow Andy Schlapp to require that staff take down the banner in the Heskett Center that said “Gender Neutral Shower and Restroom” that identified the space renovated to offer security and privacy for transgender students? What is Teri Hall’s position on this? If the LGBTQ community is supported, why not require the banner be put back up?
Here is the full message from Bardo. I am not sure if this was sent as a press release to all media.
President’s Message: Value, honor and respect
Friday, February 03, 2017 Posted: 11:29:33 AM CT
Printer Friendly
Bardo grandmotherAs family lore goes, in the late 1800s my grandmother, her two sisters and brother slipped across the Canadian-American border looking for work in the mills around Boston.
They were young, Catholic, orphaned Irish-Canadians with no prospects. At that time, some people wouldn’t hire Irish people, and my grandmother found it was helpful to claim to be of English ancestry since her last name could be found on both sides of the Irish Sea.
She ended up getting a job as a “bolt carrier” in a sewing shop—she carried large bolts of cloth to the cutting table. She and her future husband went on to establish a business that employed many dozens of people in Cincinnati, Columbus and St. Louis.
I’m writing this to fulfill a promise I made to an impressive group of Wichita State students who arrived in our country as children, not knowing they had a place in history as part of a wave of undocumented immigrants who would spend years in the political spotlight.
I met with these students in my office recently, along with Teri Hall, vice president for student affairs.
The four WSU students are part of a group of 750,000 young people across the country who are registered in a federal program known as DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
In exchange for registering, they have been given temporary relief from the possibility of deportation and are eligible for two-year renewable work permits.
Because this program was created by an executive order of President Obama, these students fear the program could be dissolved by an executive order from President Trump.
DACAIn that respect, they join those affected by the recent travel executive order and LGBTQ people who worry that their advances in recent years may also be reversed by federal action.
I want to make it clear that Wichita State stands with the DACA students and the others who add so much to the energy and intellect of our campus and the future of our democracy and economy.
We value, honor and respect the talent and perspectives that people of all races, nations and cultures bring to our campus.
I’m not one for signing petitions; I’ve seldom done so. But I’m proud to be among more than 600 college presidents across the country who have signed a petition originated at Pomona College in support of DACA students. It’s called the “Statement in Support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program and our Undocumented Immigrant Students.”
You can read the language here.
Whether you agree or disagree, I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts.
Email me: [email protected].
Real Shocker • Feb 10, 2017 at 10:37 am
John Bardo signed the letter of support for DACA which is at the link below:
https://www.pomona.edu/news/2016/11/21-college-university-presidents-call-us-uphold-and-continue-daca
Has he publicly stated his opposition to the Sedgwick County resolution and his support of continuing DACA? Have John Bardo come to the next SGA meeting to publicly state his support for the SGA resolution and continuing DACA and to denounce the Sedgwick County resolution.
Real Shocker • Feb 10, 2017 at 8:31 am
Which Senators voted “no”?