Conflict arose in the weekly Student Association Senate meeting Tuesday when senators and directors alike butted heads over opposing views on a proposed resolution and the process in which it has been handled.

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Omar van Reenen collaborated with other senators to propose Plastic Action for Commitment to Sustainability Affirmation, a resolution to promote sustainability in the dining halls on campus.

The resolution, if passed by SA, would have dining halls move the recently introduced iced coffee plastic cups next to the hot coffee paper cups for the remainder of the semester and then eliminate them by next semester.

Debate erupted when van Reenen addressed specific senators and their opposing opinions of the resolution on the Oct. 24 meeting when the resolution had been discussed and tabled until the following meeting on Tuesday.

Some senators strongly expressed concern over van Reenen’s survey to see students’ opinions on sustainability in dining halls and said he did not effectively reach out to all students at Oswego State. The survey was extended to 103 Oswego State students via Facebook pages for Class of 2020 and Class of 2021, and also around the Cooper Dining Hall area. Out of the 103 surveyed students, 72 live in Hart Hall and Funnelle Hall.

In that same Facebook post, van Reenen included a list of senators and which hall they live in for constituents to reach out to and express opinions regarding the resolution. SA members debated over personal privacy and making oneself available to constituents.

The resolution was tabled for a second time after the meeting went past 9 p.m., in which SA President Dalton Bisson said it was illegal to continue the meeting after its required ending time. More to come next week when the resolution’s debate is continued Nov. 7.

Photo:Taylor Woods | The Oswegonian