After fundraising $3,400 for a conference, the Oregon Students of Color Coalition want to host on the University of Oregon campus. The OSCC went to the ASUO Senate to see if it would grant the group’s special request to fund the remaining $2,400.

Senators Amy Jones and Helena Schlegel are active supporters of OSCC, and they stood with the group during the request. The $2,400 would be used to cover the registration fees so that they could make the conference free to the public.

“This conference is not just for students of color,” Jones said. “As a person that can’t define themselves as colored, I’ve gotten nothing but enthusiasm from the people at OSCC.”

Sen. Kevin Frazier moved to grant OSCC’s full request, and the body passed the motion unanimously. The Oregon Students of Color Conference will be happening at the UO Nov. 15-17.

Frazier also moved to make a special task force that will discuss Senate Bill 270, the bill that approved independent governing boards for the university. Frazier wants the task force to discuss what some better ways are that the students’ voices can be heard by the board. Frazier thinks that just having one student on the board (ASUO President Sam Dotters-Katz) isn’t enough for a proper student voice.

“To represent the 20,000 plus students, we only have on student on the board,” Frazier said. “That just doesn’t seem to make too much sense.”

After the committee and officer updates, the senate called an executive session and requested that all members of the audience leave the room except for the Emerald, senate members and Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students Paul Shang.

Senate President Matthew Miyamoto cited ORS 192.660(2)(b), which states that the executive session was called “to consider the dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent who does not request an open hearing.”

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