Senators in the College of William and Mary’s Student Assembly discussed next month’s Traffic Safety Week at their weekly meeting Feb. 19.
The week, which takes place March 18-22, will consist of a tabling event at the Sadler Center March 18 aimed to promote campus safety, the distribution of merchandise throughout the week as well as a trivia event March 22 with pedal bikes that simulate driving while under the influence of alcohol and marijuana.
Throughout safety week, wooden coins will be handed out to students who are seen successfully following proper traffic safety laws. These coins can then be used as vouchers at eateries sponsored by the College, such as Chick-fil-a and Qdoba.
Sen. Helen Tariku ’21 and Sen. Margaret Lister ’21 both discussed that in addition to safety week, work is being done to install a light near the Crim Dell Meadow and flashing beacons at crosswalks near Campus Center and Sorority Court.
Lister stated that she has been in contact with Senior Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Board of Visitors Michael Fox and discussed with him the viability of the College assisting with the placement of flashing beacons if SA contributes $15,000. A bill concerning funding for the beacons is expected to be voted on next week.
Also at the meeting, Sen. Kyle Vasquez ’21 proposed the Drag Act, which requests $1,950 to compensate eight performers from Pretty Boy Drag during Pride celebrations April 6. Pretty Boy Drag, based in Washington, D.C., is a drag performance group made up of queer people of color.
“I know in the years prior, people actually complained that the performers they had last year, the drag queens that came … censored things or looked a certain way that wasn’t appropriate, so I think this would be a really good experience because it’s exposing us to a different type of LGBTQ performance,” said Vasquez.
The senators also voted to allocate an additional $910 on catering and tablecloth rentals for the third annual Sankofa Gala, which will be taking place Saturday, Feb. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Also at this week’s meeting:
- The World Interfaith Harmony Act 2019 was tabled after sponsor Sen. Ellie Thomas ’20 discovered that campus faith groups possessed concerns about potential speaker Reza Aslan. Thomas is currently searching for other speakers in hopes that the week can still proceed.
- National Eating Disorder Awareness Week will be taking place next week, beginning Monday, Feb. 25.
- The senators unanimously voted to pay Matt Parciak ’19 and Amy Zhang ’19 $150 each as compensation for creating the student body’s Charter Day gift for President Katherine Rowe.
