School of Public Affairs freshman Will Mascaro was elected as speaker of the Undergraduate Senate during Student Government’s Feb. 1 meeting.
Mascaro was elected unanimously to the position following former Speaker Lars Emerson’s resignation on Jan. 27 amid tensions in SG, The Eagle previously reported.
One of Mascaro’s first goals as speaker will be to address the issues that were connected to Emerson’s resignation last week, he said.
“Quite frankly, some of the language being used in the Senate office has been completely inappropriate,” Mascaro said. “As a person who has come into the speakership in the midst of this problem, I hope to continue to actively work to make sure our office is a safe space for every student at American.”
Mascaro plans to review breaches of the standards made by senators and make sure that every member of the Senate is trained to ensure a welcoming space in the SG offices, he said.
The Senate also unanimously passed a bill to impose stricter standards of behavior within SG.
Freshman Senator Gabriel Unruh sponsored the bill.
“[It aims to] strengthen peer mediation and conversation, which help to create a community of conversation and transparency, not a community of struggle and infighting,” Uhruh said.
The new standards allow the Comptroller to classify complaints based on stricter guidelines that allow SG to protect a complainant in the case of a threat.
“In whole, these standards are strenuous and are meant to protect every member of the student body and SG in our offices,” Unruh said. “The standards are also set in the assumption that people will act decently within the procedures, and the ultimate goal in creating a safe working environment is to not have complaints at all and have an open office where everyone feels free to communicate and work on behalf of the entire student population.”
Mascaro hopes that the stricter set of ethical standards will be a positive change for Senate.
“I know that some in the Senate contend that the Ethical and Judicial Standards limits the freedom of speech of individual senator, but I disagree,” Mascaro said. “Any set of ethical standards that makes people more comfortable to be who they are, express what they believe, and contribute to our community only serves to enhance the freedoms and protections that all students rightfully deserve.”
Through his new position as speaker, one of Mascaro’s main goals is to reconnect the Senate with the students.
“We are senators only because the student body has entrusted us to represent their views, to advocate for them, and to make life here on campus better for them,” Mascaro said. “I worry sometimes that senators lose focus of that central goal, and as speaker I am going to work hard to ensure that the Senate is a student-focused organization.”
As the newly elected speaker, Mascaro wants students to feel that their voices are being heard.
“Our door is always open, and we would love to meet with students who are facing difficulties or have issues they want discussed,” Mascaro said. “I want the Senate to be the mouthpiece of the student body, the amplifier of your beliefs. We’re here for you, so let us know how we can help.”
