SGA postpones Las Vegas support resolution
Xan Matteck and Shelby Rowell describe a bill they propose at the SGA meeting on Oct. 4.
After nearly one hour of discussion and debate, the Student Government Association voted to table the “Support for Las Vegas Shooting Victim and Families” resolution until Wednesday.
The resolution, co-authored by Fine Arts Sen. Xan Mattek and Liberal Arts and Sciences Sen. Shelby Rowell, proposed that the 60th session of SGA offer “its deepest condolences to the families and victims of this act of domestic terrorism.” The resolution also acknowledged the state’s campus concealed carry law and SGA’s resolution opposing the law from last year.
Mattek said the resolution addresses an uncomfortable topic.
“This conversation is particularly uncomfortable because lives are at stake,” Mattek said.
“The climate of fear created by situations such as these unfortunately forces us to have these conversations and we have the responsibility to act with empathy.”
Multiple senators said that, while they support the victims in Las Vegas, they couldn’t vote for the resolution as presented.
Health Professions Sen. Chris Thiel said the resolution was polarizing.
“The way it’s worded, you either support the victims of the Las Vegas terrorist attack or you support campus carry,” Thiel said. “Those are two separate issues.”
At-large Sen. Taylor Williams said the bill should be split into two parts, one part offering condolences to the victims in Las Vegas and the other addressing SGA’s position on campus carry.
Returning Adult Sen. Timothy Dodd said both elements of the resolution were necessary.
International Sen. Haneesha Vishwa Sai said she supports the resolution, but it needed to be rewritten to be more specific.
Voting on the resolution was ultimately postponed until next week’s meeting to give senators the time to further research the bill and draft amendments.
Go Steve • Oct 7, 2017 at 8:54 pm
Steve is spot on. A no brainer resolution but for Paige’s obligation to Schlapp and company. Where did she intern? Where is her allegiance? Oh, yeah. Bardo and crew. Hope the fact research went well this week.
WSU student • Oct 7, 2017 at 3:55 pm
SGA is a joke.
Steve • Oct 6, 2017 at 10:00 am
We all know what is going on here. Paige and the other SGA lackeys can’t risk upsetting Andy Schlapp and the rest of their GOP puppet masters by taking a stance counter to the conservatives that run state government. If a few students lose their lives to gun violence that is just a small price to pay for staying in the good graces of people like Brownback, Ty Masterson and the Koch family.
Are they? • Oct 5, 2017 at 3:08 pm
But are they? Are they really THAT separate? Is it REALLY wording? I would like to press Thiel a little and ask him to flesh out how exactly these are completely exclusive matters.
“The way it’s worded, you either support the victims of the Las Vegas terrorist attack or you support campus carry,” Thiel said. “Those are two separate issues.”
I encourage you to go on CNN and watch this video footage from a first responder’s bodycam. Even to watch safely behind a computer screen is haunting and terrifying. If anyone were to ever shoot a SINGLE bullet on our campus it would be great tragedy.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/03/us/las-vegas-shooting-investigation/index.html
Senator Chris Thiel • Oct 5, 2017 at 4:07 pm
Hello “Are they?”,
My name is Christopher Thiel, one of the Health Professions Senators on the 60th Session Senate of Student Government Association at Wichita State University. As the person that you are addressing your concerns to, I just want to point out that my contact information is on the SGA website and I’d be more than happy to discuss further with you the reservations that I had on this resolution. It seems that maybe you weren’t present at the Senate meeting nor watched the livestream because of the way your comment is worded, but again, I’d be willing to talk to you.
The thing that provoked me to comment on this is because I just wanted to fill you in on the fact that I am a licensed Emergency Medical Technician in the state of Kansas and am nationally registered. On top of that, I have certification and worked as a CNA for three years and am trained in disaster preparedness and response with the Community Emergency Response Team as well. As a front-line healthcare provider, I know first-hand the effects of trauma, and don’t need to go on CNN to imagine the sight of a multiple GSW victim. In fact, as nice as “watching safely behind a computer screen” sounds, I can assure you that I’ve spent my fair share of time consulting with victims of terrible incidents and being with family members on possibly the worst day of their lives.
I also want to point out that I am the one who proposed the amendment to the legislation that states, “BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 60th Session Senate of the Wichita State University Student Government Association recognizes and commends the medical professionals, first responders, and heroic bystanders who took action in the wake of the tragedy on October 1st, 2017.”
With all of that being said, I understand that this is an emotionally charged topic, and I’d love to hear your viewpoints. Should you be interesting in actually having meaningful dialogue, I’d love to get coffee with you, even if you’re not a CHP student. I can be reached at [email protected] or [email protected].
Sincerely,
“Thiel”
Insider • Oct 5, 2017 at 12:22 pm
Xan and Shelby, ya’ll are badasses. Tim, you’re aces too