The Student Government Association (SGA) and Student Diversity Board (SDB) will co-sponsor an opportunity for students to come together and talk about controversial issues at a Catholic institution tonight in Rice Commons, according to OrgSync, the Saint Mary's student activities portal.
The event will last one hour, beginning at 7:30 p.m., and will be closed to faculty, staff and media.
The opportunity to come together follows campus controversy about Planned Parenthood but also in light of the harassment junior Maranda Pennington faced when a homophobic slur was was written on her whiteboard.
“We have broadened the event to be an opportunity to discuss all of the types of controversy that have been occurring and how we can move forward, make changes and be better as a community,” student body president Kaitlyn Baker said.
“Students will have an opportunity to voice their opinions and why they believe what they believe,” she said. “We are all still Belles, and it’s important for students to listen to other students’ opinions and say, ‘I respect your opinion, but I believe this.’”
Student body vice president Maddie Kohler said SGA hopes the event will be a learning opportunity for students who attend.
“We will close the event knowing that we are still one community [and] it’s okay that we are at a Catholic institution and have different beliefs,” she said.
