Associated Students of Arizona State University released a new constitution documenting position responsibilities within Graduate Student Government and Undergraduate Student Government. The constitution and its summary were sent in an email to students asking them to vote by Nov. 22.
Students for Justice in Palestine and Young Democratic Socialists of America at ASU released a statement on Instagram imploring students to vote no because the constitution "does not enumerate the rights to protest, union, or self identification."
"If the ASASU constitution is passed, then they would supersede the GSG constitution," said Hayden Nguyen, a sophomore studying business management and a leader in both SJP and YDSA. "The GSG Constitution has certain rights enshrined in it, such as the right to assemble and unionize, a right to self-identification for transgender folks and a right to a cultural identity for student associations."
USGT President Mason DoVico, a senior studying political science and business, said that those claiming that the new constitution is trying to roll back student rights are incorrect because ASASU doesn't "have the ability to give those rights" and they are included in the First Amendment within the U.S. Constitution.
DoVico said the proposed constitution further defines student government member roles and ensures consistent agreement within ASASU about election codes and senate seat allocations.
"Truthfully, the rights and responsibilities laid out for students within this constitution are the same rights or responsibilities that are laid out in our current USG constitution," DoVico said. "They do not differ, nor do they restrict anyone's right to be who they are in any sort of way. I, being the first openly gay president, would never seek to limit queer rights or voices here on the ASU campus."
Edited by Jack Barron, Abigail Beck, Alexis Heichman and Alysa Horton.
Reach the reporter at njarret1@asu.edu and @nataliajarrett on X.
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Natalia is a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication. This is her third semester with The State Press. She has also worked as a politics reporter.
