Difference between revisions of "SB-2020-21-007: Condemning White Supremacy and Riot at the Capitol"

Revision as of 18:44, 24 March 2021

Senate Bill No.: 2020-21-007

Date: January 25, 2021

Authored by: Sahara Damon, Chair of Legislative Affairs

Reema Haque, Assistant Chair of Elections

Evelyn Jimenez, Chair of Elections

Co-Authored by: Kavya Dhyasani, Senator for the College of Engineering and Computer Science

Isabella O’Brien, Lower Division Senator

Kiana Requena, Senator for the College of Education

Referred to: Elections Committee

Committee Rec: Committee of the Whole (18-0-1)

Senate Action: March 22, 2021 (17-0-1)

Title: Resolution Condemning White Supremacy and Riot at the Capitol

1. WHEREAS: The Associated Students, Inc. (AS) is the official voice of over 38,000 students at California State University Northridge; AND

2. WHEREAS: AS is the primary advocate for students at CSUN and provides excellent, meaningful programs and services designed to create and enhance a spirited, learning focused campus environment; AND

3. WHEREAS: The Associated Students, Inc. (A.S.) “Value Statement” states, “In order to guarantee equal human rights for the student body, the organization declares equal opportunities shall be afforded all students without regard to race, color, religion, size, creed, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, marital affiliation, sexual or affectional orientation, age, sex, ethnic origin, citizenship, nationality, veteran status, or disability”; AND

4. WHEREAS: On January 6, 2021, rioters incited by hate and false information, partly on behalf of President Donald Trump, stormed the U.S Capitol, participated in breaking and entering, vandalized federal property, and threatened both congress members and our cherished Democratic institutions; AND

5. WHEREAS: Many rioters included white supremacists and alt-right groups such as the Proud Boys, who frequently engage in hateful and threatening speech rooted in white supremacy and Nazi ideology and let their mission be known by holding confederate flags and other paraphernalia; AND

6. WHEREAS: A formal FBI investigation is being conducted into the criminal actions that took place that day, many of which resulted in major public damage, injuries, and deaths; AND

7. WHEREAS: These rioters were joined by James McMillan, a student at CSUN, and/or any other CSUN affiliated members, who participated in such protests, encouraging the illegal insurgency of the U.S Capitol and using foul and demeaning language in the process; AND

8. WHEREAS: James McMillan’s social media platforms are full of tagged posts with CSUN and in his current LinkedIn has “Student at California State Attachment #3 University, Northridge,” CSUN has the responsibility to make sure CSUN is not be associated with hateful speech; AND

9. WHEREAS: CSUN’s official and public values include “Commitment to Excellence” and “Respect for All People” in its Value Statement, and its Vision statement includes provisions stipulating that “Our graduates will be the vanguard of leaders— committed to sustaining a democracy in which diverse people share in the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, proficient in applying technology to wise purposes , and dedicated to securing a humane world and community”, all of which rioters on January 6th, 2021, including the CSUN student stated above, violated by participating in said riot; AND

10. WHEREAS: CSUN’s official student code of conduct includes “Campus Community Values” and it states “The university is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy living and learning environment for students, faculty, and staff. Each member of the campus community should choose behaviors that contribute toward this end. Students are expected to be good citizens and to engage in responsible behaviors that reflect well upon their university, to be civil to one another and to others in the campus community and contribute positively to student and university life;” THEREFORE, LET IT BE

1. RESOLVED: Although Associated Students have been advised on the limits of the University Administration in terms of Student Conduct we are in support of the University Administration conducting a formal investigation OR formal acknowledgment on the actions of James McMillan and/or any other CSUN affiliated members as her/his/their actions jeopardized the reputation of the University, Associated Students requests that a formal investigation by university administration be seriously conducted into the actions of James McMillan on January 6th and leading up to that day, to promote CSUN’s stated values and vision, and to ensure and prioritize the safety and inclusivity of students on campus, particularly students of color who may feel specifically targeted by McMillan’s actions; AND LET IT BE FURTHER

2. RESOLVED: Associated Students requests CSUN to be transparent with their students about the processes they are taking with James McMillan and/or any other CSUN affiliated members to ensure the students at CSUN feel safe; AND LET IT BE FURTHER

3. RESOLVED: Associated Students wholeheartedly condemns threatening and hateful rhetoric, and condemns the rhetoric of former President Donald Trump, who fueled the insurrection of the Capitol and riots that ensued on January 6th, 2021; AND LET IT BE FURTHER

4. RESOLVED: Associated Students wholeheartedly condemns white supremacy and any racially motivated hateful and threatening speech, AND LET IT BE FURTHER

5. RESOLVED: Associated Students understands this is an institutional problem that is deeply rooted within the United States and calls for the implementation of a formal task force on campus, comprised of both students, faculty, and staff, to conduct formal investigations into hateful speech, violence, and the spread of false information within and throughout campus entities; AND LET IT BE FURTHER

6. RESOLVED: That copies of this resolution be distributed widely, including but not limited to the following:

• Joe Biden, President of the United States

• Dr. Erika D. Beck, CSUN President

• Dr. William Watkins, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

• Patrick Bailey, AS Executive Director

• Mary Beth Walker, CSUN Provost

• Gavin Newsom, Governor of California

• United States Department of Education

• California Department of Education

• California State University Board of Trustees

• CSUN Today

• The Daily Sundial