The Government of the Student Body passed the senate order Keeping College Tuition Affordable at its meeting Wednesday night.

In a recent GSB survey, more than 70 percent of students who responded stated that minimizing tuition increases is the most important campus issue.

An idea was discussed at a recent Board of Regents strategic planning session that would increase tuition by $2,000 for the purpose of redistributing this increased revenue to financially needy students.

Because the senate passing the order, GSB will be sending copies of the resolution to state lawmakers and President Gregory Geoffroy, saying GSB strongly opposes any tuition increase above the generally accepted Higher Education Price Index range.

Dione Somerville, dean of students, addressed the Senate at Wednesday’s meeting in regard to the approved Sexual Misconduct Policy. She said they have revised student disciplinary relations since she last addressed the senate, shortly before winter break, to fit with the updated policy.

“We will be treating cases that involve taking away a person’s consent, such as date-rape drugs and alcohol, more seriously,” she said.

The new policy ensures the victim has the same rights as the accused, she said.

Graduate senator Aaron Gross, graduate in entomology, said he is concerned that people who are found not guilty of sexual crimes will return to the university and experience a negative stigma.

But Somerville said it’s her job to keep students safe.

“My question to you is: if you are a student and you know that there is someone who has enough evidence to be held in jail, do you just want us to do nothing about it?” she said.

Somerville said the average number of sexual assault crimes reported is two to four per year, but this year there have been more than 10 reported.

She said the Department of Public Safety has been involved in helping victims and educating students in taking preventative measures.

The senate bill Sponsoring Some Sweet Turkish Songs passed, allocating $600 to The Turkish Student Association to sponsor a band to entertain participants at Turkish Night on April 21.

The senate order Supporting Residents of Schilletter-University Village passed by a vote of 20-3-3.

The order was in place due to growing concern of a lack of maintenance, cleanliness and safety provided to SUV residents.

SUV senator Melissa Jakubauskas, graduate student in apparel, educational studies and hospitality management, said the resolution is a mutual responsibility between tenants and the department of residence and it is in place to ensure the residents and the department of residence are doing their part to keep Iowa State beautiful.

Off-campus senator Nathan Rockman, senior in political science, expressed frustration about the order.

“I don’t feel comfortable voting on this,” he said. “For all I know [SUV] could be a beautiful Garden of Eden.”

Pete Englin, director for the department of residence, addressed the senate at Wednesday’s meeting.

Englin updated the Senate on the state of his department’s finances.

He said the campus housing rates are the lowest rates in the Big 12.

“The reason for this is ISU has the highest percent of students living on campus in the Big 12,” he said.

Englin said he projects the rates will increase by only 1.5 percent for Frederiksen Court and SUV and 2.5 percent for the residence halls.