TCU Senate update

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate at its meeting last night rejected a resolution (7-14-2) that would have encouraged campus groups, including the Tufts Chaplaincy and the TCU Judiciary, to "interpret the University's non-discrimination policy in a way that does not bar religious groups from choosing leaders who reflect their views."

The resolution was submitted by Senior Senators Tim Lesinski and Ben Richards.

"I want to create a broad protection for religious groups in the future," Lesinski said.

"I think it's very important that as student leaders we take a stand on this issue," Richards said. "Religious organizations are very prominent on this campus."

Members of the body believed that the resolution was proposed in response to recent controversy surrounding the Tufts Christian Fellowship (TCF). In November, four students filed a complaint with the Judiciary alleging that TCF's policies for selecting leaders discriminated against LGBT group members. The students later rescinded the complaint pending the results of a still-ongoing investigation by the University Chaplaincy.

"This is selective democracy and selective protection," Latino Center Community Rep. Zoe Munoz said. "It's reactionary, it's aggressive and it's reacting to the TCF incident. It's a slap in the face to the entire Tufts community."

TCU President Tomas Garcia said the final lines of the resolution "completely contradict the non-discrimination policy."

The body also approved three buffer fund requests. One is for $407 for Tufts Campus HOPE for a speaker honorarium and speaker travel and board. Another is for $4,250 for Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) for a speaker fee and speaker travel and board. The Alliance Linking Leaders in Education and the Services (ALLIES) also received $1,732.16 for field fees, transportation, food, a website, and logistics for an event.