With election day looming, the Student Government Board passed a resolution last night… With election day looming, the Student Government Board passed a resolution last night calling for the amendment of Pitt’s Nondiscrimination Policy.

The resolution stated that the “actual or perceived gender identity or expression should be added to the list of terms on which discrimination is prohibited .

“I think that it was something that needed to be done a long time ago,” board member Lacee Ecker said.

While he commended the board on its unanimous approval of the resolution, Rainbow Alliance president Aaron Arnold said that the process has only begun.

“The work does not stop here,” Arnold said. “Rainbow Alliance will take this to the board of trustees to vote on amending the actual Nondiscrimination Policy.

SafeRider talks continuing

SGB president Shady Henien also updated students on his recent talks with SafeRider.

Along with board member Alexis Chidi, Henien will attend an upcoming transportation committee meeting to request permission to listen to tapes of student calls for help.

Until Henien and the transportation committee determine the root of the problems riders have been complaining about – such as busy signals or denial of service – Henien called for students to remain patient and civil.

“Although there may be many issues with SafeRider, and the most popular and easiest route to take in any situation is to complain and make Facebook groups lashing out at a certain topic, the best way to deal with this situation is in a smart manner, which means we must take both diplomatic and respectful approaches with the administration of the department of transportation,” he said.

Since Monday’s article in The Pitt News regarding Saferider, the service has already increased the maximum number of students who can wait on hold at once from six to ten.

Statue selection process developing

In preparation for this year’s Light Up Night, Henien announced that the selection process for the decoration of the ten fiberglass panthers, which the board purchased over the summer for about $60,000, will not be random after all.

Instead of randomly selecting ten student organizations to decorate the panthers, SGB will appoint a selection committee to review applications submitted by student groups.

Any Student Organization Resource Center-certified group can submit a proposal of its painted panther statue. The committee – which will consist of representatives from the Blue and Gold Society, faculty, staff and the art school – will then select the ten best candidates to decorate the statues.

“I feel that this is the most fair and unbiased group to make selections, as well as add various elemental perspectives, which will be vital in critiquing the proposals by the student groups,” Henien said.

“I wanted to make this in the most fair and fun way as possible for all Pitt students.”

SGB has received permission to place the decorated statues at Sutherland Hall, Towers, the Towers patio, Alumni Hall and the Petersen Events Center. Henien is also hoping for approval from Hillman Library, Benedum Hall and the Cathedral of Learning.

“This is going to be an amazing opportunity that will instill some pride in this campus that is surely lacking,” Henien said.

USA Today program to continue

In addition to instilling pride around campus, SGB decided to continue Pitt’s participation in the USA Today Readership program, which is in its second free-trial period since the board introduced it last year.

If accepted, the program will bring both the USA Today and New York Times to numerous locations around campus daily. The program will cost $2.50 per undergraduate student, per semester.

“This is incredible,” Henien said, “as it will enhance the academic stature of the University and offer a worldwide perspective on current events.”

The relationship with USA Today will also bring CEO job fairs to campus, which the USA Today provides to its member universities. Both Penn State and Carnegie-Mellon participate in this program.

Whether or not the SGB decides to continue this program beyond the latest trial period hinges on a student vote currently being taken online at my.pitt.edu.