After heavy debate, the NC State Student Senate passed the Free Electives Act Wednesday night in the Talley Governance Chamber. 

Because of the large amount of restrictive college-specific electives for students in the College of Engineering, College of Textiles and College of Sciences, many of the students in those colleges aren’t able to take a significant number, if any, free electives. 

The legislation proposed that colleges reduce the amount of major-specific electives so that students are able to take more classes during their time in college and are able to add a minor if they choose.

Now that the bill has passed, Student Government will lobby the legislation to the administration, the Division of Academic and Student Affairs and the vice provosts, according to Student Senate President Cody Long. 

While it is ideal for students to have many options for a well-rounded education, some participants made arguments for keeping the electives as they currently stand.  

Student Body President Rusty Mau pointed to the fact that for most engineers to become certified to work, they must take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, which requires knowledge from the advanced coursework that engineers currently take.

Members of the Student Senate discussed that the point of GEP requirements is to allow students a balanced education that still supplies a strict focus in major.  

Senators also decided to send the Inclusion Act to Committee, a piece of legislation that members of Student Government have been trying to pass since the beginning of December. 

This piece of legislation is intended to promote diversity and equality throughout campus, according to Kelly Elder, the legislative secretary and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences senator who introduced the bill.

The act would work to benefit diversity groups on campus, such as the Afrikan American Student Advisory Council, that do not have proper funds to host events and awareness activities at NC State, Elder said.

Recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City have brought light to issues of discrimination and racial tensions in the U.S. Along with helping to provide funds, this piece of legislation would be a way for the university to make a statement that encourages diversity and promotes equal treatment of peers amidst the current events. 

A debate over certain aspects of the legislation halted a proposed fast track of the bill.  Some members of Senate felt that there could be more done with the bill to make a “bold statement.”  The Inclusion Act was moved to a later date in order to be further discussed by the committee of Government Relations and Oversight.  

Student Body President Rusty Mau spoke about the bill at the meeting.

“I don’t think there is a doubt in this room that we want to fight these issues on our campus, across our state, and across the nation,” Mau said. “But we do have a little bit of time to make a bold statement.  I hope everyone will look at this with a hopeful attitude.”