SGA Senate passed a bill creating a new international student standing committee in its last session of the spring semester.
Jorge Cardona | Staff Writer
On April 13, the “I Stand for International” Bill was passed by the Senate in a 20-2 vote, creating a new International Student Affairs Committee (ISAC) as a permanent Senate committee to replace the existing International Student Ad-Hoc Committee.
This new committee will “advocate for equitable policies and resources that support international students…ISAC shall further promote global citizenship, cultural responsiveness, and inclusive engagement across the university community,” according to the bill.
ISAC would also have the ability to make official recommendations to the SGA Senate and President, and to address the Board of Trustees on matters concerning international students at FIU, and to host international student forums.
When asked why he chose to sponsor the bill, Graduate Senator David Riera stated, “I authored and sponsored this bill in community with other very supportive and wise senators because FIU is not simply a university with international students, FIU is an international university at its most fundamental core. The “I” in FIU must always STAND for and with International”.
He further added, “ISAC institutionalizes what was once temporary. It ensures that international students are not dependent on political cycles or individual goodwill, but are instead supported and prioritized by a permanent structure within student government”.
The bill faced some debate on the Senate floor, with some senators voicing their support, believing it to be a measure that will guarantee international student representation within SGA. Some senators dissented, calling into question the necessity for a new standing committee within the student senate.
Graduate Senator Mateo Suarez, who voted ‘no’ on the bill, explained that, “I voted against making the committee permanent because I believe that every senator in SGA should represent all students, including international students…and I worried that adding another permanent committee could lead to inefficiencies, especially when some committees already struggle with meeting quorum.”
The new International Student Affairs Committee (ISAC) is set to begin operating in the next session of the Senate this upcoming summer semester.
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