The ASUW resolution, authored by Vice President Tyler Wolfgang, to allow an LGBTQIAA + pride flag to be flown in Prexy’s pasture during the month of June has been tabled indefinitely.
The ASUW Student Outreach and Policy committee (SOP) officially tabled the bill indefinitely during last week’s ASUW meeting. The bringer of the bill, Vice President Tyler Wolfgang, said he is concerned about the move to table indefinitely.
“Table indefinitely in ASUW in the past few legislations that have been tabled indefinitely resulted in killing the bill,” Wolfgang said.
SOP Chairman Paul Drake said the purpose of tabling the legislation indefinitely rather than just tabling it, was to avoid reporting each week that the legislation has again been tabled and reduce media pressure on ASUW.
Wolfgang said the bill should have been tabled rather than tabled indefinitely.
“I was shocked,” Wolfgang said. “ I feel like if Student Outreach and Policy wanted to table this they would have actually tabled it and released a survey, however, tabling indefinitely comes off as killing it.”
The purpose for tabling the bill at all is to preform outreach, conduct surveys and speak with affected RSO’s and students on campus, Drake said.
However, Wolfgang said outreach should have been done prior to the decision to table.
“It upsets me that none of them (members of SOP) outreached or did their job to talk to sponsors of this bill or the general student population,” Wolfgang said.
ASUW Director of Diversity Dimitri Nesbitt agreed.
“I would have liked to see outreach be considered before it was tabled as well,” Nesbit said
Wolfgang said another contributor to the SOP’s decision to table indefinitely may have been public sentiment that was created by false news reports.
“This resolution was mixed up with the incident that took place on the first day of school this semester,” Wolfgang said.
That incident, Wolfgang said, was when someone took down the American flag in Prexi’s Pasture and replaced it with an LGBTQ pride flag.
“The intent was never to fly the pride flag above the American flag or above the State of Wyoming flag or in place [of those flags],” Wolfgang said.
The assertion that ASUW’s intent was to fly the pride flag above or instead of the American flag may have stemmed form an email sent to several news outlets by UW student Isacc Roque.
“I will not stand for the ASUW to have any flag replace the American flag or flown above it,” Roque said in the email. “To take the American flag down would be a disgrace to those who have come before us and have fought to make this nation what it is.”
Roque said the misunderstanding happened because of vague language in the legislation itself. Despite learning the flag would not be flown above or instead of the American flag, Roque said he remains in opposition to flying the LGBTQIAA+ flag.
“The American flag is inclusive enough,” Roque said.
Roque said he does not just oppose flying the pride flag, but opposes flying any additional flags.
“I don’t care, it just so happened to be that flag,” Roque said. “I don’t have any personal issues with members of that community.”
Roque said his email was still justified because of the events earlier this year.
“Well they did, the LGBT community did replace the American flag.” Roque said. “That raises the issue of, does this community not think the American flag is a strong enough symbol?”
Regardless of motivation, Drake said the bill is not dead and is still being considered by SOP.
“Were finding out what needs to be done and kind of what everyone would do about it,” Drake said. “No one should think the bill is dead.”
Nesbitt, who was present for SOP’s most recent meeting, said he was concerned about the committee’s process.
“[The process] was disorganized and that shouldn’t happen,” Nesbitt said. “They (SOP) should already have a mechanism in place for outreach and it didn’t feel like that was there.”
Nesbitt said this may send a bad message about student government.
“When there is no plan what does that say about the student government?” Nesbitt said. “What does that say about SOP?”
