Two controversial issues previously discussed by the Temple Student Government General Assembly were revisited at Monday’s TSG meeting.
Dean of Students James Fitzsimmons announced the University’s decision to restrict the size of public exhibits.
The issue became controversial after several students expressed discomfort with an anti-abortion exhibit at the Bell Tower last October by the Genocide Awareness Project that featured 20-foot tall posters showing aborted fetuses alongside photos from the Holocaust, Cambodia’s killing fields and the Rwandan genocide.
Fitzsimmons said that the University had decided to restrict the size of any public exhibits to eight feet in height, and will inform the University community about any such exhibitions in advance, Fitzsimmons said.
“As a state university, we allow free speech,” Fitzsimmons said.
“We cannot say some groups can be at this corner and another cannot because it’s controversial.”
In addition to the restricted size of exhibitions, the advance notice that will be posted throughout the campus will give students the option to avoid the displays, Fitzsimmons said.
TSG President T.J. Baker discussed the ongoing debate about diversity at Temple.
Last semester, statistics showed that the percentage of minorities attending the University is falling.
“We want to maintain diversity of not only students but also faculties and administrations,” Baker said.
TSG has made several proposals to the administration, Baker said.
He also said that he and other TSG officers are examining how other schools are handling diversity issues and promised to continue to stress the issue on the administration.
“We want to make sure the University to maintain its commitment [to diversity],” said TSG Parliamentarian Thomas Verela. “We don’t want to let it slip off.”
The General Assembly elected Brian Harvey, to fill the vacant TSG Press Director position.
Harvey was the assistant press director prior to his election to fill the vacancy left by the former director Amit Kalarikade.
Kalarikade left to chair the TSG Internal Operations Committee.
Harvey said he wants to work on implementing a newsletter to inform people of TSG activities.
Verela announced the applications for TSG election are due Mar. 24; forms are available at the TSG office on the second floor of the Student Center.
Saeko Komura can be reached at saekokomura@yahoo.co.jp.
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