CAMPUS VOICES

CAMPUS VOICES Too cool for school?

than the virus itself. Everyone reaucratic red tape prevented change and dican play a part toward a collec- rection for progress in many areas of campus tive good. life. However, as much as we can all blame the As a fraternity man, I know president, the Board of Regents or the faculty, what it means to truly be sur- we as students must also take some blame. rounded by people who have When I first toured MSU back in early 2017, your best interests at heart. I I immediately fell in love and knew this camalso know all about the impor- pus would be my home for the next four years. tance of being available and be- I found the architecture breathtaking and ing a good listener. Throughout thought the tightly-knit community, where evmy time in college, I have had eryone knew everyone, was truly special. Now, friends open up to me in a va- as I prepare to leave in May, I worry about some riety of ways, from coming out things I am seeing as I walk the Jesse Rogers PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN of the closet to revealing they Promenade for the last few times as an underHardin Building, MSU Texas, July 2020. had written goodbyes to their grad. loved ones in the past few days. No longer do I feel the same family-like con-

During such an unprec- Depression is a rotten curse. By nection from everyone I meet like I did just a edented time as is the showing a true desire to empower those around few years ago. No longer do we have any pride present, we have an ob- me, I believe I can be called a “friend” by almost in our campus, nor our identity. I see people not ligation to protect our family: everyone I meet. I believe I have made a differ- following COVID prevention guidelines. I see our Mustang Family. Whether ence in many lives perhaps even saving some. people littering. I see people spreading rumors it be through the adamant fol- I fully intend to suggest to my children later and lies about others that do nothing but cause lowing of social distancing in life to consider MSU as a place to go to col- drama. I see a handful of individuals making Nick Lanier guidelines or by being a shoul- lege. I will be a proud Mustang alumnus, but rash decisions for the campus that affect the der to lean and cry on during a period where I will not say that my experience was perfect. masses. I see more hate and divide than I ever inadequacy and anxiety can run more rampant There were far too many instances where bu- thought I would.

Is this the Mustang experience? Is this the Mustang way?

We need to look back only a few years to find real pride and real school spirit at MSU. Football games were sellouts. The Mustang Maniacs were in full force. Whatever happened to them? There are 2A high school games with louder student sections than ours. There were days where organizations would host events together and promote one another rather than attacking their peers on Twitter. Incoming freshmen were excited to take part in all the campus traditions. I remember Roundup and Stampede Week events being standing-roomonly. I remember panicking trying to find a T-shirt to exchange before the bonfire, going from store to store with no luck as they had all already been purchased by my fellow students. I remember the excitement of visiting the lights and the frantic frenzy that was finals. Now things have changed. “Oh well, it’s just another school event.”

The magic of the dome, the subtle wideberth given to the seal are things of the past. And for what reason?

Are we all too cool for these traditions now?

Feb. 15, 2021 Campus Voices | News | Suicide Prevention | Media | Satire | Feature Feminine hygiene product bill to be proposed to the SGA

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN Texas A&M Kingsville, Texas Tech and Texas State have passed feminine product bills similar to one being proposed by the MSU’s SGA Campus Environment Committee.

PHOTO BY BAILEY GRAHAM | THE WICHITAN Student Government Association president Shelbi Stogdill gives remarks at latest SGA meeting, Feb. 7.

ABBY JONES REPORTER

Acommittee out of the Student Government Association will be proposing a bill this semester to the SGA cabinet that puts pads and tampons in female and gender non-conforming restrooms on campus.

“It’s a really big step in the correct direction. Just because we’ve all gone to the bathroom at one point or another and someone has either needed a tampon or a pad or we needed one personally and just didn’t have one. I think having them available is really taking the next step in empowering [women] on campus,” Deanna Duensing, member of the SGA Campus Environment Committee and social work junior, said.

This committee is responsible for drafting the feminine hygiene product bill. Its chair, Eric Queller, business management sophomore, is currently in the research phase of the bill.

“Hopefully it gets approved this spring, implemented this summer and then tested next semester, the fall and spring, then revisited in 2023 to see how that pilot program is working,” Queller said. “The ultimate goal is to have feminine products, tampons and pads, in select restrooms this first initial round.”

According to Queller, similar bills have been approved and successful at other Texas universities such as Texas A&M Kingsville, Texas Tech and Texas State. Before MSU Texas can join them, the feminine hygiene product bill must first be put to the test.

“Since this is a pilot program bill, it will get revisited at a specific time,” Queller said. “The next campus chair will have to revisit the bill and see how the pilot program is doing.”

Austin Strode, general business junior, will be running for SGA president at the end of this semester. If he was to win, his cabinet would be the one assessing the bill after its trial phase.

“Personally, I see no reason why I would want to shut this bill down,” Strode said. “If our school can do it, why aren’t we doing it?”

Once implemented, the bill will provide free products to students from more than just one community.

“The goal is not just to put them in a female restroom but also to put them in one of the gender-neutral restrooms as well for those who don’t identify as a female but still have those issues,” Duensing said.

This bill would not only contribute to a need on campus but also build up MSU’s reputation as an institution dedicated to inclusivity.

“It’s another thing that shows that MSU cares, and that’s a big deal. We choose to come here, we pay tuition, we pay all this, and it’s nice to know that not only do you support and back the university, but the university backs and supports you.” Duensing said. “I think that’s going to add to the feeling that you do belong here. You are accepted here. MSU wants you here.”

The Campus Environment Committee will present the feminine hygiene product bill to the SGA cabinet after establishing that it can be funded either by on-campus organizations or otherwise.

“We’re trying to find funding for the bill. We can approve it but not have any funding. Then it becomes a dead bill. I don’t want that. This is a very important bill for the student population both on campus and off campus,” Queller said.

Strode said he is positive that the bill’s importance will outweigh the financial stakes.

“With this bill unfortunately, it sounds like it’ll be expensive, so it’ll be harder to pass, but I think it’ll be something that’ll get enough support to where the cost won’t matter as much in the decision-making process,” Strode said.

Queller said he and his committee members are determined to achieve this funding so students have the products they need without worry or financial burden.

“I think it should be free and it is going to hopefully be free. We’re not going to settle for anything less,” Queller said.

Duensing said this bill should encourage students to voice their concerns.

“If you see something that you think could be better, speak up, take it to the SGA [and] talk to someone who’s on a committee or on an organization,” Duensing said.

Duensing feels there is always room for the campus environment to be improved, which means there’s always a place for every student to speak out on their own experience.

“One of the things I really love about inclusivity is it’s never 100 percent achieved. There’s always somewhere to go,” Duensing said. “There’s always going to be some form of injustice or place that we can improve, so I’m really excited to not only finish this next step but see where we can go from there.”