The Associated Student Body passed resolutions about changing meal plan requirements, student health policies and sustainability efforts in its last formal Senate meeting of the semester.
Resolution 25-7, one of the most heavily discussed proposals, proposed eliminating the requirement for residential college students to purchase the plus-one meal plan, regardless of Greek affiliation.
The resolution, proposed by legislative aides Jamil Taylor, Josie McCatey and Corey Kinger, passed unanimously.
“We recognize that this policy may disproportionately impact students who choose to reside in residential colleges,” Taylor said. “Through our proposed resolution, we urge the university to reconsider the current policy in the name of equity for all students as changing this policy reduces unnecessary financial burden on students.”
Senate Resolution 25-6, unanimously approved, establishes a formal partnership between the Department of Student Housing and ASB to help during move-in week.
The resolution aims to reduce the workload on student housing staff by providing volunteers to help break down boxes and organize recycling.
Resolution 25-5 proposed more water filling stations in existing residence halls. While the original plan proposed installation on all floors, the Department of Student Housing cited financial and infrastructure constraints.
As a compromise, ASB agreed that all newly constructed buildings would have water bottle filling stations on every floor. The resolution passed unanimously.
Senior Class President Jack Walker promoted Mr. University, an all male talent competition scheduled for today. Proceeds will support the Senior Class of 2025’s gift to the university, which will benefit Grove Grocery.
“By bringing canned goods to the event and placing them into one of the candidates’ boxes with his beautiful headshot on it, you can help one of the guys to win the title of Mr. Philanthropy if he has the most canned goods at the end of the night,” Walker said. “The one thing people on campus need to not be worried about is what their next meal is.”
Senate Bill 25-5 honoring Lieutenant Commander Patrick Murphy also passed unanimously. Murphy, a 1986 Ole Miss alumnus with a degree in chemical engineering, earned a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Chicago and a Master’s in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Navy War College. He received a commission through the Navy RTC and served as a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy, remaining in reserves until he lost his life in the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon.
The ASB unanimously struck a clause from Senate Bill 25-7 that was passed last year that required members of the ASB Housing Committee to serve on the Student Housing Appeals Committee, which determines whether students can terminate their housing contract.
“After further meetings and discussions with the Department of Student Housing and the appeals board it is deemed not feasible as written,” said Wesley Templet, chair of the Student Housing Committee.
Templet did not provide further details of the discussions in the formal Senate meeting.
The ASB Housing Committee has now added a new clause about responsibilities, including maintaining updated resources about student housing concerns.
“This is just a way of continuing to provide support for students on campus and off campus,” Templet said.
The meeting concluded with remarks from ASB Senior and Interim Vice President Caleb Ball who reflected on his time in ASB.
“I’m really, really proud,” Ball said. “I started this journey a long time ago, and I really never thought that I would be in this position, president of the Senate, and I’m so proud of everything we have accomplished this year.”
