Student Government Association expressed opposition to two bills presented by the Kansas Legislature during SGA’s meeting Wednesday.

SGA read, debated and passed two resolutions against the two bills, Kansas House Bill 2292 and 2207.

Bill 2292

The first bill, a substitute for House Bill 2292, passed through the “gut and go” parliamentary process Feb. 17, according to the SGA resolution. The “gut and go” process allows laws to be passed through a process of expediency, according to the resolution.

Opponents of the bill, including those in SGA, said they are worried about the language in the bill that says it would remove Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs from high schools.

“A lot of our campus leaders who are influential on this campus and doing influential things, they come from those programs,” said Student Body President Joseph Shepard, who sponsored the SGA resolution against the bill.

Eighteen members of SGA sponsored the resolution. Maha Madi, SGA’s director of public relations, said she sponsored the resolution in part because she took AP courses in high school.

“I just feel like they were the closest things to college classes,” Madi said. “Looking back on it, I think they really helped me prepare for college.”

Academics chairmen Dalton Glasscock, another sponsor, said AP courses in high school was crucial.

“The ability to analytically and critically look at things is I think what AP and IB programs teach,” he said. “I want to make sure those are protected at all costs.”

After several senators spoke up in favor of the resolution, SGA moved to pass the resolution by consensus, officially opposing House Bill 2292 unanimously.

“I think it shows a sign that we appreciate the AP and IB programs across the state and what they offer,” Glasscock said.

Bill 2207

The second House Bill SGA voted to oppose was bill 2207, which calls for development and implementation of ethnic studies in schools.

According to the resolution, the bill states, “ethnic studies includes, and is limited to, the experiences of African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics, Latinos and Native Americans.”

SGA opposed the bill because of the lack of diversity.

The bill was removed from the table at the Kansas House and may not be read this legislative session, which was partly why SGA debated expressing opposition to it.

One problem a senator had with the bill was a “whereas” clause that said, “comments such as ‘Black History Month’ is already too long is simply unacceptable.” Several senators suggested removing that clause, which was eventually approved.

Duggins, who sponsored the resolution against the bill, said she was disappointed by Senate’s decision to remove the clause.

“Including that comment shows that these are the things that are causing these bills to be brought up in the House,” Duggins said. “These are the things we need to be aware of so that we’re not surprised or taken aback when these bills are brought up and we know the reasons these bills are even getting proposed at all.”

After debate, SGA passed the resolution against House Bill 2207 by a vote of 15-4.

Lifeline 911

A bill several members of SGA campaigned on behalf of WSU at the state capitol several weeks ago became law Wednesday.

Gov. Sam Brownback signed into law Senate Bill 133, also known as the Lifeline 911 bill.

Lifeline 911 is a medical amnesty bill designed to protect young people from legal repercussions in cases of underage drinking if police are called.

Shepard said he is excited to see the bill passed.

 “Being one of the students who went down to lobby for that bill to be passed, it makes me feel that we can make a change here in our state,” he said.

Shepard said if the bill’s passing saves even one life, the bill achieved its goal.

“If it’s just one life, we’ve done our job, and that’s one life that’s going to be able to be had here in the state of Kansas,” he said. “Students shouldn’t feel afraid to call 911 due to the repercussions they may face.”