Confusion surrounded a Government of the Student Body resolution to “reaffirm commitment to the quality of scientific education at Iowa State” as senators discussed Intelligent Design, despite protest from the authors that Intelligent Design was not the subject of the resolution.

The resolution – which failed 11-19 Wednesday – stated that because Iowa State is a public university, there should be a distinct separation of church and state. Despite the implications of the bill’s wording and current discussion on campus about Intelligent Design – a theory that states some life forms are too complex to have evolved without the work of some kind of designer – authors said the bill was not addressing the controversy.

“The intent of the bill was to ensure all students have their right at Iowa State University to maintain religious diversity on campus,” said off-campus senator Lori Neuman-Lee, an author of the bill.

“The bill is not about Intelligent Design. I really want to make that clear.”

The resolution was sponsored by Neuman-Lee and senators Jason Stanek, graduate senator; Luke Gran, LAS senator; Melissa Fox, off-campus senator; Jonathan Mullin, graduate senator; and Greg Bonett, off-campus senator.

Senators were torn on the resolution and debated it for more than an hour.

College of Design senator Tony Borich, ex-officio member of the Ames City Council, said he disagreed with the intent of the resolution. It gives more credence to the Intelligent Design debate, which isn’t really a debate, he said.

“Intelligent Design isn’t accepted by science. It shouldn’t be accepted by ISU,” said Borich, senior in community and regional planning.

Neuman-Lee challenged anyone to find the words “Intelligent Design” in the resolution.

“You can’t find it, because it’s not there,” she said.

The focus is the university’s commitment to science, she said.

“We can’t say, ‘Science, here’s what you should teach. Here’s the standards,'” said senator Brandon Gray, senior in journalism and mass communication.

Setting standards wasn’t the only concern.

“This bill says nothing,” said senator Drew Larson, senior in accounting. He said the bill wasn’t political and didn’t affect students; it was a question of what science is, which is an expert issue not relevant to GSB.

IRHA Senator Ryan Doll, senior in political science, said the bill was beyond the scope of the body’s bylaws, and it interfered with the essential operation of the institution.