The Undergraduate Student Government denounced a Residential Life window policy banning signs in dorm windows Wednesday night.
The resolution was approved with minimal opposition.
"I'm very happy [the resolution passed] and I think a lot of the things we talked about were fundamental issues of free speech," said Barrett Honors College senator Jonathan Confer, author of the original act.
University Affairs Committee member Colin Whiteneck worked on the redraft of the bill and said he felt the largest problem was not the window policy but the way it has been enforced.
"The largest problem that we see is that they are selecting what can go up [on the windows] and what can't and that's unconstitutional," Whiteneck said. "I think it is in the University's best interest to come up with a policy that works better."
Grant Klinzman, chair of the University Affairs Committee, felt the message sent through the resolution was an appropriate one.
"We essentially are sending a very strong message of dissatisfaction of the current policy and its enforcement," he said.
W. P. Carey School of Business senator Ricardo Vasquez was one of three senators who chose to abstain, as he said that neither support nor opposition of the bill was well represented during the meeting.
Senator Andrew Moe of the College of Public Programs was one of two senators to vote against the resolution.
"I don't believe it's necessary to take that right away from the University to censor because I think, in certain cases it is necessary and appropriate because we are a state university," Moe said.
Herberger College of Fine Arts senator Erin Robertson said she felt what was most important was the representation of the students.
She cited political science and history sophomore Laura Thorson and her roommate, biology and society sophomore Hayley Ivins, who are under fire for refusing to remove signs from their dorm window.
"We are elected for the reason of defending the needs of our constituents," Roberstson said. "We have specific duties and we need to take care of them."
The USG also passed an act establishing a liaison who will be responsible for attending Tempe City Council meetings.
The government relations director is able to refer the responsibility to any other member of the USG Government Relations Department.
Reach the reporter at rkost@asu.edu.
