The Student Government Association's Senate Council meeting voted unanimously Monday, Oct. 20, to approve the creation of a Diversity Learning Community on Auburn's campus.
First-year students interested in matters of culture, religion, race and inclusion will have the opportunity to learn alongside peers with similar interests and identities.
Though the learning community is not a "living-learning" community just yet, College of Liberal Arts Senator and senior in political science Dillon Nettles said he believes it's a step in the right direction.
"As a senator, I thought it was important the First-Year-Experience Office knew that this was something that was in the interest of students," Nettles said. "I hope as a member of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity that SGA can expand upon issues of diversity, LGBT rights, issues of race, gender, even class on this campus. Those are all things that our committee wants to promote throughout the rest of our term, and I hope that more legislation like this will come to the floor.
The learning community was established as part of a resolution put forward by the College of Liberal Arts.
Nettles said he was happy to bring the issue of a diversity learning community to SGA's attention, but he felt it was not his responsibility to mandate a timetable for its completion.
"It's really a framework to work within and it doesn't actually implement a specific date," Nettles said. "It was important not to do that because I felt that administrators tasked with carrying out the learning community process can do it in the way that they feel will be most beneficial for students.
Members of Spectrum, Auburn's on-campus gay-straight alliance, were in attendance to offer support and gratitude.
Max Zinner, senior in anthropology and Spectrum political affairs director said the establishment of the learning community was a big step in correcting Auburn's LGBT image problem.
"I don't know if you're aware, but Auburn's been listed as one of the most LGBT-unfriendly colleges by The Princeton Review," Zinner said. "Anything that the University can do to get off that list is great. Anything that can be done to make an underrepresented community, especially the LGBT community, more visible would be very welcome by Spectrum."
Auburn University was also recently recognized by The Princeton Review in their 2014 edition of their "Guide To Green Colleges," the only college in Alabama to do so.
In appreciation for their efforts, SGA voted to specially recognize the Office of Sustainability for their work in keeping Auburn's campus clean and green.
There was a brief presentation from the Office of Compliance from within the Athletic Department regarding NCAA infractions at Auburn.
Though there are currently no malpractice claims filed by the NCAA against Auburn, the Athletic Department aims to nip any future infractions in the bud.
"There are two things in the Athletic Department we try to live by," said associate athletic director Dave Didion. "Tell the truth, no matter how painful, and if you see something say something."
Didion said it's easy to get in trouble when you don't understand the NCAA rules, having worked for the NCAA for 25 years himself.
The Athletic Department asks the student body and community not give student-athletes any extra benefits, make special arrangements in restaurants or at businesses for them or to contact future athletic prospects outside of approved Athletic Department communications.
Even paying for a student's free lunch could put Auburn and the team in jeopardy, Didion said.
"If you are friends with someone who is being recruited by Auburn and they send you texts, leave it to the coaches, unless you're a lifelong friend," Didion said. "In any case, you should contact the compliance department first to make sure you're OK. You're helping to protect their eligibility to play college sports."
Next week, a resolution to extend the amount of time between the formal end of the school semester and the beginning of exam week will be up for vote.
The proposition wants to add additional "dead days," or open weekdays, to the schedule for the first time since Feb. 2010.
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