Resolution in Condemnation of White Supremacy and Neo-Nazism

The Washington State University Graduate and Professional Student Association Resolution 2017.5

Approved by GPSA Senate: 9/25/17

WHEREAS, the Washington State University Graduate and Professional Student Association is the representative body for graduate and professional students at Washington State University as established under the authority of the Washington State University Board of Regents; and

WHEREAS, the mission of Washington State University (WSU) 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, according to the WSU values statement, "we are committed to ensuring trust and respect for all persons in an environment that cultivates individual and institutional integrity in all that we do"; and

WHEREAS, a sub goal of the WSU values statement expresses that "we are committed to the land-grant ideals of access, engagement, leadership, and service to bring the practical benefits of education to the state, nation, and global community"; and

WHEREAS, another sub goal of the WSU values statement expresses that "we embrace a worldview that recognizes and values the importance of domestic and global diversity, global interdependence, and sustainability"; and

WHEREAS, the College Republicans at WSU sought to host alt-right agitator Milo Yiannopoulos on January 19th, 2017, only to have the event cancelled by inclement weather; and

WHEREAS, fliers were found scattered around the WSU campus on February 14, 2017 that read, "a notice to all citizens of the United States of America, it is your civic duty to report any and all illegal aliens to U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement; they have broken the law"; and

WHEREAS, a video with racist messaging circulated online in late April of 2017 that focused on an October 2016 political rally held on the WSU campus for then Presidential candidate Donald Trump; and

WHEREAS, WSU gained negative local, statewide, and national attention in August of 2017 when the leader of the WSU College Republicans attended a "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, an event which prominently featured white supremacists and Neo­ Nazis.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Graduate & Professional Student Association (GPSA) of Washington State University supports students without regard to their race, ethnicity, cultural or religious background, national origin, immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, GPSA opposes all expressions of white supremacy and Neo­ Nazism at WSU, as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to the values of the WSU community; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, GPSA urges the administrative personnel at WSU to unilaterally and publicly condemn any and all expressions of white supremacy and Neo-Nazism at WSU; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, GPSA also urges the administrative personnel at WSU to maintain a strong commitment to the safety of all students, consistent with state and federal laws; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, upon passage this resolution shall be sent to Governor Jay Inslee, Attorney General Bob Ferguson, WSU President Kirk Schulz, WSU Provost Dan Bernardo, WSU Vice President of Student Affairs Mary Jo Gonzales, WSU Interim Dean of Students Kathy MacKay, Vice President for External Affairs and Government Relations Colleen Kerr, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Mary Wack, U.S. Senators for the State of Washington Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, U.S. Representative for Washington's 5th District Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, State Senator for Washington's 9th Congressional District Mark Schoesler, State Representatives for Washington's 9th Congressional District Mary Dye and Joe Schmick, and GPSA President Shane R. Reynolds.

Signed by:

Shane R. Reynolds, GPSA President
Amir Gilmore, GPSA Executive Vice President
Joshua Munroe, GPSA Vice President of Legislative Affairs

*For the official signed version, please visit Resolution in Condemnation of White Supremacy and Neo-Nazism.