Take a read, then I'll fill you in.
HR07 Arab American Month
Problem #1: It's superficial.
The first "WHEREAS" clearly states that "The University of Colorado Colorado Springs recognizes April as National Arab American Heritage Month." Additionally, the UCCS SGA Constitution Preamble reads "We, the students of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS), according to the authority granted by the Board of Regents of the University of Colorado and the Office of the Chancellor of UCCS, in order to give the students an effective voice in the shared governance of the campus, to provide the students an enriching and fulfilling university experience and to promote the general welfare of the student body, do ordain and establish this constitution of the Student Government Association (SGA). We do so in accordance with the Student Bill of Rights, the Laws and Policies of the Regents of the University of Colorado and the Constitutions of the State of Colorado and the United States of America."
If the University has already declared and recognized April as National Arab American Heritage Month, the SGA, by the laws of their own Constitution, also recognizes April as National Arab American Heritage Month. This is yet another superficial document.
Problem #2: It's limiting
It limits the recognition to contributions in "science, academics, education, business and social justice." Although this does include a wide spectrum, it does exclude a large amount of the Arab American population at UCCS.
Problem #3: It could be considered discriminatory.
Below is a list of all the national history and heritage months I could find. There are 15, yet this is the only such resolution, recognizing a specific heritage and population, presented this academic year. As a result, passing such a resolution could call into question SGA's viewpoint neutrality and could be considered discriminatory by members of other populations at UCCS.
February:
African-American History Month
March:
Greek-American Heritage Month
Irish-American Heritage Month
Women's History Month
April:
Arab-American Heritage Month
Tartan (Scottish-American) Heritage Month
May:
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Haitian Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
July:
French-American Heritage Month
September:
German-American Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month
October:
Filipino American History Month
Italian-American Heritage Month
November:
American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month
I appreciate the effort by the author and sponsors of this resolution. However, when leading a large and diverse population, we need a dynamic viewpoint, a complete understanding of the laws that guide us and an overwhelming respect for grammar, syntax and the definitions
The first "WHEREAS" clearly states that "The University of Colorado Colorado Springs recognizes April as National Arab American Heritage Month." Additionally, the UCCS SGA Constitution Preamble reads "We, the students of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS), according to the authority granted by the Board of Regents of the University of Colorado and the Office of the Chancellor of UCCS, in order to give the students an effective voice in the shared governance of the campus, to provide the students an enriching and fulfilling university experience and to promote the general welfare of the student body, do ordain and establish this constitution of the Student Government Association (SGA). We do so in accordance with the Student Bill of Rights, the Laws and Policies of the Regents of the University of Colorado and the Constitutions of the State of Colorado and the United States of America."
If the University has already declared and recognized April as National Arab American Heritage Month, the SGA, by the laws of their own Constitution, also recognizes April as National Arab American Heritage Month. This is yet another superficial document.
Problem #2: It's limiting
It limits the recognition to contributions in "science, academics, education, business and social justice." Although this does include a wide spectrum, it does exclude a large amount of the Arab American population at UCCS.
Problem #3: It could be considered discriminatory.
Below is a list of all the national history and heritage months I could find. There are 15, yet this is the only such resolution, recognizing a specific heritage and population, presented this academic year. As a result, passing such a resolution could call into question SGA's viewpoint neutrality and could be considered discriminatory by members of other populations at UCCS.
February:
African-American History Month
March:
Greek-American Heritage Month
Irish-American Heritage Month
Women's History Month
April:
Arab-American Heritage Month
Tartan (Scottish-American) Heritage Month
May:
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Haitian Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
July:
French-American Heritage Month
September:
German-American Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month
October:
Filipino American History Month
Italian-American Heritage Month
November:
American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month
I appreciate the effort by the author and sponsors of this resolution. However, when leading a large and diverse population, we need a dynamic viewpoint, a complete understanding of the laws that guide us and an overwhelming respect for grammar, syntax and the definitions
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