The student government passed the resolution to add the Douglas Hall name change proposition on its winter ballot.

The resolution was almost stricken from the agenda because it was not officially presented before the council of chairs, the committee chairs, to be approved to be placed on the agenda.

“(The Douglas name change) is a big issue because it has generated a lot of debate and I feel that not only will this drum up student interests in our elections, but it’s a free way for (the student government) to get the maximum amount of student feedback,” said Jarrod Scherle, a student senate member.

Scherle was the author of the resolution.

Before discussion on the resolution, an amendment was passed to change the ballot question from “Do you feel like Douglas Hall should be renamed because of Stephen Douglas’s political motives” to “Do you support the renaming of Douglas Hall?”

“I do think that it is important to get student input, but we should have put it on the ballot before we passed the resolution at our last meeting,” said Zach Samples, a student senate member.

During discussion John Poshepny, a student senate member, said he would vote in favor of the resolution because it is the best way to give students a voice in this issue.

“Accusations were brought that we didn’t do enough research before voting on (the resolution against renaming Douglas Hall) so the vote numbers won’t lie,” said Tyson Holder, a student senate member.

The student government also passed the funding proposal for posters publicizing the Panthers Care Winter Clothing Drive.

“The posters will be placed in the academic buildings as well as the residence halls and they will be to market the clothing drive and will be asking students, faculty, and staff to bring items of winter clothing back with them when they come back from winter break,” said Samples, who co-authored the proposal.

The winter clothing drive will occur throughout the month of January and is co-sponsored by the student government, the student community service, the residence hall association and the student volunteer center.

The proposal for the bylaw change regarding the procedure for student government members to approach the Apportionment Board was tabled to vote on next week.

The proposal regarding funds for snacks and refreshments for the “House Parties, Toga Parties, and Can My Landlord Really Do That?” event authored by student senators Tommy Nierman and Ben Mapes passed.

Student senate members Roberto Luna, Zach Samples, and Alex Boyd were approved to attend the Conference on Student Government Associations.

Rachel Rodgers can be reached at 581-2812 or rjrodgers@eiu.edu.