The most interesting thing about the Wednesday night Student
Government Association meeting came toward the end and had very
little to do with the structured proceedings of the evening.

SGA President Adam Meister ordered all the senators to put their
heads down on their desks, “fifth grade style,” for an informal
democratic vote for who would be representing SGA for homecoming
court. Meister and Academic Vice President Jessica Cusick were
elected by a nearly unanimous vote.

The rest of the evening’s events were far less entertaining, but
more serious in nature. Bright-eyed new senators were inaugurated
to applause, and Meister led them solemnly in the oath of
office.

Andrew Chappelle then took the floor with a controversial,
highly debated proposal regarding the secular decoration of the
Busch Student Center since its renovation.

“Basically this started over the summer when I was walking to
the BSC, and I noticed that there is nothing in the BSC that
reminds me of Christianity or the fact that we are a Jesuit,
Catholic school,” Chappelle said.

Chappelle, also president of the Black Student Alliance,
proposed that SGA vote on the installation of religious symbolism
in the BSC.

“I feel that when students walk into their student union, they
should see and be reminded of their school’s religious tradition,”
said Chappelle. “The executive board agrees and has discussed
it.”

The senators agreed that while there are crucifixes in every
classroom, the student union is obviously lacking in religious
ornamentation.

Senator Tim Mulhall asked what the feelings were of the Office
of Student Development, and Assistant Vice President of Student
Development Phil Lyons answered, “I say we do it!”

Senator Eric Immel inquired as to whether or not Chappelle
intended for the BSC to be decorated with purely Christian,
Catholic images or to represent various religions.

Chappelle said that he had intended for Christian art, but that
he had left the term “religious symbolism” purposely vague for the
senators to decide.

Some senators dissented, saying that there was no need for
religious symbolism, citing the already overtly Jesuit, Catholic
nature of the campus. But when the vote was cast, the resoltuion
was unanimously passed by the senate.

“We decided in SGA that it’s an issue and we will work to figure
out what we want to do about it,” said Chappelle.