A proposal calling for A&M students to not pay fees based on their religious beliefs passed the Student Senate but has been vetoed by the student body president.
The non-binding measure was originally drafted to let students opt out of paying fees directed to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered (GLBT) Resource Center at A&M.
The bill, rewritten and retitled to apply to students who wanted to withhold fee money based on their religious beliefs, passed the Student Senate on a 35-28 vote.
Student Body President John Claybrook wrote in his veto message the intent to deny funding to the GLBT Resource Center “has caused great harm to our reputation as a student body and to the students feeling disenfranchised by this bill.”
Claybrook also wrote the good accomplished in rewriting the bill to cover religious beliefs “pales in comparison to the damage done. (And) This damage must stop today.”
Claybrook said “Now, more than ever, is the time to show great resolve and come together, treating each other like the family that we are.”
Click HERE to read the Religious Funding Exemption Bill.
The veto message from Student Body President John Claybrook:
After much research and deliberation, I have confidently decided to veto S.B. 65-70, The Religious Funding Exemption bill. Even without the wording that specified particular groups that would be affected in the final version of this bill, the sentiment towards the bill has not changed and has caused great harm to our reputation as a student body and to the students feeling disenfranchised by this bill.
One of the major arguments used in the passage of this bill has been brought into question. To make matters clear, there is currently no option for students to opt-out of paying fees. Rather, in actuality, there is a Student Fiscal Appeal Process, which “will consider appeals involving issues related to the application of University Student Fiscal Policy.”
The main premise of S.B. 65-70 is to “support the current standing process of allowing students who object, for religious and moral purposes, to the use of their student fees and tuition… (and) to opt-out of paying an amount equal to their share of the service funding from their fee and tuition money.” Since no such “current standing process” exists as is described in the bill, S.B. 65-70 serves no purpose. However, what this bill represents still remains and must be done away with.
Although much adjusted in its final form, the good accomplished through this bill pales in comparison to the damage done. The damage must stop today. Texas A&M students represent our core value of respect exceptionally and I’m very proud of the family at this university. Now, more than ever, is the time to show great resolve and come together, treating each other like the family that we are.