Associated Student Government senators passed three bills Wednesday night, including one that proposes giving students the option of posting their WildCARD photographs on Ph pages.
The photo bill passed by a two-thirds majority with several senators voting against it.
Gabe Matlin, a Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Mu Alpha senator, said he originally co-authored the bill because he thought students would find the service useful. But after speaking with constituents, he changed his stance.
“People either felt it was unimportant, or they were worried about having their picture online, even after I explained it was optional,” said Matlin, a McCormick senior.
Adam Forsyth, an off-campus senator and author of the bill, said adding photographs to the Ph system will not endanger students because they will have to deliberately change their Ph settings to turn on the photo option.
Forsyth, a Weinberg junior, added that he doesn’t think stalkers should be a concern because all students have access to facebooks.
Students at Norris University Center on Wednesday night said the proposal wouldn’t jeopardize student safety.
Shanker Murugavell, a Weinberg freshman, said he would not post his WildCARD picture, but he thinks students should have the option.
“It would be a good idea for people like the president of ASG, because they want to be known,” Murugavell said. “But I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it.”
Medill freshman Hilary Powell said she doesn’t think posting students’ photographs will endanger anyone. “It’s just another form of identification,” she said.
Senators also passed a bill to create a new Web site for students who live off campus. The site will include links to relevant ASG and NU Web sites, an index of area utilities with contact information, and an archive of off-campus listserv messages and subscription information.
Senators unanimously passed a third bill that seeks to publicize ASG proceedings through an information sheet that will be distributed to students and listservs. The sheet would include a brief description of ASG’s weekly agenda.
Also Wednesday senators heard proposals for new a bill calling for the creation of a third all-freshman dorm on North Campus. Another new bill seeks to create a student, faculty and staff advisory committee to oversee Counseling and Psychological Services. Both bills are slated to be voted on next week.
Forsyth said the CAPS bill is one of the most important on Senate’s upcoming agenda.
“This way they can get students’ ideas on how to make things better.”
