During one of the final meetings of the 96th session of Student Senate on Wednesday, the legislative body heard Resolution 84, the Banned Students Solitary Act, and Finance Bill 87, the 2017-2018 Budget Act, among others.

Resolution 84, sponsored by Sen. Zach Lentz, a graduate student studying biological and agricultural engineering, states that the NC State Student Government stands in solidarity with students who are from countries which fall under the suspended travel executive order issued on Jan. 27, as well as students affected by the executive order.

After a small debate, Resolution 84 was passed, and Finance Bill 87 was passed after extended debate on the bill’s amendments.

Although some time had passed since the executive order was issued, Lentz still believed it was important to reach out to support these students.

“I realize we are a little past the date on this,” Lentz said. “We wanted to show support for international communities that were pointed out by President Trump’s executive order. I think it’s important to note that graduate students have way more international students than undergrads; their a big part of our population. I think it would be bad for us to say that we do not support these students.”

Jack Pashby, a college of engineering senator and junior studying nuclear engineering, argued against passing the bill, stating that the bill would become obsolete once a new executive order goes into effect tomorrow.

“That isn’t the only executive order President Trump had signed regarding immigration,” Pashby said. “Executive order 13,780 says anyone with a visa can come back in the United States, and it’s effective tomorrow. So, essentially this bill will become worthless.”

Student Body President Paul Nolan, a senior studying materials science engineering and political science, also addressed the Senate, giving some facts about international student populations.

“We have 355 applicants from the six countries,” Nolan said. “Regardless of the legality of the situation in this case it is more complicated, as a number of students are affected by the situation.”

Debates for Finance Bill 87, sponsored by Student Body Treasurer Daniel Harper, a senior studying mathematics, went on late into the night. The bill established the Student Government budget for the next academic year, specifically outlining where funds were to be allotted.  

The amendments made to the bill during the town hall meeting held by the Finance Committee previously to discuss the budget were read aloud. These included reductions in funds for initiatives that were not so successful this year, such as Campout and Wear Red Friday.

During the Student Senate meeting, any additional amendment requests were emailed to the Senate prior to the start.

The Senate voted on various amendments to Finance Bill 87, including an increase in the stipend for the Board of Elections Chair, a funding decrease for Campout, removal of the Wolfpack Bleeds Red Initiative, which provides free feminine hygiene products in the bathrooms in D.H. Hill and James B. Hunt Libraries, and funding for a Student Body Graphic Designer.

Madison Teeter, a member of the Traditions Department in Student Government and a sophomore studying political science argued to increase the budget for Wear Red Friday, which provides T-shirts to students who wear red on Fridays, stating it is an integral NC State tradition that promotes Student Government.

“With the money allotted, it would only allow us to have one Wear Red Friday per semester,” Teeter said. “Wear Red Friday is supposed to be a tradition. So, if it’s something that only occurs once a semester it’s not really effective. It’s our main advertising for traditions events, as well as advertising what Student Government does for all students.”

Rebecca Locklin, a College of Humanities and Social Sciences senator and senior studying psychology, women and gender studies and communication media disagreed with Teeter.

“I reason why I wasn’t in support of [the amendment] was because it could allow new traditions, Locklin said. “Traditions are great; I love traditions that carry on year to year, but sometimes we just have to admit that a tradition is not longer working. So I thought this would be a way to introduce the idea of more programs that could be added to Traditions.”

The amendment failed, and the budget for Wear Red Friday remained at the same number that had been amended at the town hall meeting.