Joint Resolution of ASWSU and GPSA to Add “Citizenship and Immigration Status” to EP15
The Washington State University Graduate and Professional Student Association Resolution 2019.001
Approved by GPSA Senate: October 7, 2020
Approved by ASWSU Senate: October 23, 2020
WHEREAS, Washington State University’s mission statement is “To apply knowledge through local and global engagement that will improve quality of life and enhance the economy of the state, nation, and world.”; and
WHEREAS, WSU Pullman’s international student population comes from 106 different countries and is 7% of the total WSU population and 30% of the Graduate and Professional students population; and
WHEREAS, Washington State University has over 500 undocumented students; and
WHEREAS, the 47th senate of ASWSU passed Resolution 47-03 and GPSA passed Resolution 2017.4, both to declare support of students irrespective of documented status; and
WHEREAS, the WSU Student Affairs Initiatives includes a commitment that WSU is “an undocumented student-friendly institution, WSU has and will continue to provide a strong support system for all students in the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program.”; and
WHEREAS, we firmly believe that all international and undocumented students deserve a redress of grievances to any discriminatory behvior and see it as a necesity that WSU policy reflects this; and
WHEREAS, University of Washington Executive Order 31 includes “citizenship” in their prohibited discrimination; and
WHEREAS, Engrossed Senate Bill 5165 in the WA State Legislature, “An ACT Relating to discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status”, passed a roll call vote in the WA State Senate and is being considered in the WA State House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS, Washington State University’s Executive Policy 15 does not currently include
“citizenship and immigration status” as a protected class; and
WHEREAS, Executive Policy 15 covers discrimination and protected class policy at Washington State University; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the student body of WSU (ASWSU and GPSA) urge the EP 15 committee to add “Citizenship and Immigration status” as a protected class to the EP 15 policy and urge administrators to encourage this change; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the WSU Student Body urges support of ESB 5165 from our student advocates, administrators, and elected officials; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, upon passage of this resolution shall be sent to the EP 15 committee, WSU President Kirk Schulz, Interim Provost Bryan Slinker, WSU Vice President of Student Affairs Mary Jo Gonzales, WSU Dean of the Graduate School Lisa Gloss, Vice President for External Affairs and Government Relations Colleen Kerr, State Senator Mark Schoesler, State Representatives Joe Schmick and Mary Dye, WSU Director of State Relations Chris Mulick, GPSA VPLA Matthew Sutherland, and ASWSU DoLA Josh Maasberg.
Signed by:
Ralph Chikhany, GPSA President
Veneice Guillory-Lacy, GPSA Executive Vice President
Matthew J. Sutherland, GPSA Vice President of Legislative Affairs
Quinton Berkampous, ASWSU President
Jhordin Prescott, ASWSU President