STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSEMBLY

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

1 University Station, A6210 Austin, TX 78712-0810
(512) 471 3166 Fax: (512) 471-3408 http://www.utsg.org

A.R. 31
In Support of Student-led Efforts to Raise Student Awareness
and Help Stop the History of Oppressive Racism and Sexism
from Repeating Itself at UT Austin

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Authors:

THE SOCIETY FOR CULTURAL UNITY: Mr. BRYAN DAVIS (STUDENT, THE UNIVERSITY
OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN), Ms. TAYLOR FOODY (STUDENT, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
AT AUSTIN), MR. CHAS MOORE (STUDENT, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT
AUSTIN), MS. REVA DAVIS (STUDENT, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN), and
MR. CONNOR MARTENS (STUDENT, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN)

Sponsors:

Ms. ADIT BIOR (Representative, College of Liberal Arts), Mr. RUBEN

CARDENAS (Representative, Moody College of Communication), Ms.
ANGELINA CASTILLO (Representative, College of Pharmacy), Mr. SERGIO
CAVAZOS (Representative, College of Liberal Arts), Ms. ALISSA OSGOOD
(Representative, School of Social Work), and Mr. TARAL PATEL (University
Wide Representative)

WHEREAS,

Student Government serves as the official voice of students at The University of

Texas at Austin; and,

WHEREAS,

The University of Texas at Austin prides itself on being a bastion of progress;

committed to fostering a learning environment safe for anyone regardless of
physical appearance, belief, or cultural background; and,

WHEREAS,

Student-led efforts by the Society for Cultural Unity to combat the intolerance
and prejudice that foster such a discriminatory academic environment have
produced materials titled WE HAVE THE POWER1; and,

WHEREAS, This student-led effort aims to reform each Cultural Diversity flagged class through the
implementation of archives from the past 75 years which document racism and
sexism at UT Austin; and,
WHEREAS,

This student-led effort seeks to demonstrate an undeniable linear connection

between historical and current prejudice; and,

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.696180890491228.1073741828.670599043049413&type=3

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WHEREAS,

The stated mission of each Cultural Diversity flagged class is to explore the
persistent marginalization of various cultural groups2; and,

WHEREAS, These archives will be included in a pamphlet distributed to the students of each Cultural
Diversity flagged class; and,
WHEREAS,

The pamphlets of the reformed Cultural Diversity flagged classes will also
include detailed instructions for reporting sexual and racial assault related crimes
to the school administration; and,

WHEREAS,

The educational materials in this effort uniquely incorporate archives from UT

Austins own libraries while helping UT more effectively comply with federal
guidelines to aid students in realizing an academic environment free from all
forms of discrimination34; and,

WHEREAS, Such student-led efforts aim to make all students who graduate from UT Austin more
aware of how their actions might reflect either the wrong or right side of history;
and,
WHEREAS,

The Student Government of the University of Texas at Austin advocates for the
core values of integrity, diversity, and community; and therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, That the Student Government of the University of Texas at Austin understands
the significance of instilling these important core values in students at the
university through these student-led efforts to implement such educational
materials in each Cultural Diversity flagged class; and therefore,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That it is the opinion of the Student Government that racially
targeted assaults56 and culturally insensitive events78 thrown by UT student
groups have become a pattern in student life culture9; and therefore,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Student Government of The University of Texas at Austin
commends and supports the efforts of this student-led movement to bring about
the implementation of new standards of cultural diversity and a culture shift in
UT classrooms while making UT a national leader in this aspect; and therefore,

http://www.utexas.edu/ugs/flags/students/about/cultural-diversity
http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/cor/coord/ixlegal.php#IV. Discriminatory Conduct
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http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=97&page=transcript
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http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/the-stream/the-stream-officialblog/2013/8/23/-bleach-bombsreemergeatutaustin.html
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/bleach-balloons-university-of-texas_n_1939170.html
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http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/19/the-catch-an-illegal-immigrant-game/?_r=0
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http://college.usatoday.com/2015/02/13/texas-students-rally-as-fallout-over-border-patrol-party-continues/
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http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2015/03/02/fiji-border-patrol-party-did-not-violate-university-rules-administrators-say
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Office of the President,
the Office of Diversity and Cultural Engagement, the Cultural Diversity Flag
Committee, The Daily Texan, and The Horn