Student Body President Allison Markert vetoed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and divestment of University funds from Israel Tuesday night.
Resolution 29, officially entitled “A resolution to be entitled an act to promote peace and human rights by advocating for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, condemning hate speech and enhancing educational resources on Palestine and Israel,” passed in Student Senate on Sept. 4 by a vote of 30 positive votes, 16 negative votes and one abstention.
The resolution’s passage came after months of internal conflict over the legislation in the Senate. The resolution failed a fast-track motion in April following a controversial undisclosed meeting in which Senate leadership discussed the ceasefire resolution ahead of the official vote to fast-track.
In an official notice sent to Student Senate Tuesday night, Markert cited “a lack of representation of campus and community stakeholders” and “concerns regarding delegation of authority” as the rationale for the veto.
In an email response to Technician, Markert gave the following statement.
“I have included all of my rationale and reasoning in the linked documents,” Markert wrote. “Nothing further.”
Markert wrote the Senate did not do its due diligence in engaging a wide enough array of campus communities until “far too late in the legislative process.” She continued that a lack of communication with relevant student organizations could not merit the passage of such a large piece of advocacy on behalf of the entire student body.
The ceasefire resolution included over 30 signatories from student organizations and leaders at the University and beyond, including the Graduate Workers Union, the Muslim Student Association, the NAACP’s NC State affiliate and various chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine.
Naila Din, chair of the Student Senate Committee on Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach and corresponding sponsor of the ceasefire resolution, provided the following written statement in response to the veto.
“I think it’s very telling of our Student Body President that she does not value the wellness of students on campus by vetoing this legislation,” Din wrote. “Not only did she submit this veto on a Wellness Day, students said on the Senate floor that this legislation provides them a form of acknowledgement and comfort within the University. She not only strips these feelings for everyone in support of the legislation, but also continues to be the University and government’s puppet in shutting down the truth that there is a genocide in Palestine.”
Din notified the senate of her intent to move to overturn Markert’s veto of the ceasefire resolution at the senate meeting Wednesday evening at 3:41 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
Markert also vetoed the ceasefire resolution’s companion legislation, Resolution 36, entitled “Institutional Support for Students Affected by Global Conflict Act.”
Taquan Dewberry, Student Senate pro-tempore and corresponding sponsor of the institutional support resolution, said in a written statement he is disappointed by both vetoes.
“I can assure the student body that the work towards creating a continually more inclusive campus community that is supportive of all our students is not done, we will find a path to move forward in this work together,” Dewberry wrote.
This is a developing story.
This article was updated Sept. 17 at 11:49 p.m. to include Dewberry’s written statement.
This article was updated Sept. 18 at 4:21 p.m. to include Din’s notification of her intent to move to overturn Markert’s veto.
