Student Government concluded the 2024-25 session with a new role, updating bylaws and expressing support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The Rules Committee proposed an order to update the current bylaws. 

The members “extensively reviewed and discussed the current bylaws,” according to the order document. After consideration, the committee believed the bylaws needed additions and reconstruction.

“I was really dedicated to making a system in Student Government where Senators were productive, they were being accomplished for the achievements that they were making,” Momaney said.

The committee’s main goal was to create more involvement and improve the wording of the bylaws. The order was passed unanimously.

The Senate proposed to condemn the passing of SF 418 in the Iowa Legislature, which passed unanimously. The bill, which was signed into law in February by Gov. Kim Reynolds, defines “gender” as a “synonym for sex” and that gender “shall not be considered a synonym for… gender identity, experienced gender, gender expression or gender role.”

The bill requires state departments that collect data to comply with this law to “identify the sex of each person in the collected data as either male or female,” including Iowa State.

“It is necessary to secure genuine equal protection for women and girls,” Reynolds stated in a press release announcing she signed the bill. “It is why we have men and women’s bathrooms, but not men and women’s conference rooms; girls’ and boys’ sports, but not girls’ math and boys’ math; separate men and women’s prisons, but not different laws for men and women.”

The Senate believes that “this is a clear step back on civil rights for people living in the state of Iowa, especially those under any pressure socially due to their gender identity,” according to the resolution document.

“In general, to have our legislature go out and remove protections against discrimination, which have existed for nearly 20 years… especially considering the impact on students right now… I think that this action is warranted,” said Sen. Noah Kammeyer, a junior in political science and government.

The Rules Committee also proposed an order of censuring for Sen. Justin Moran, a student in computer science. A censure is a formal statement of disapproval that the Senate must agree upon. 

This order was proposed following Moran’s default of duties as outlined in the bylaws. An investigation was held, and the committee found Moran did not fulfill office hours requirements and was absent from some meetings. 

Moran yielded his speaking portion to Asray Gopa, a previous member of the Senate and junior in computer science, to represent his case.

“Justin just tries, guys, like why would you do this to him?” Gopa said. “You all should really debate this censure bill for the full 45 minutes… because Justin Moran is that important to the Senate, and that’s why he’s coming back next semester. Oh, he’s not coming back next semester.”

The Senate erupted with laughter following the statement. Gopa continued to share his opinions on Moran and why he believes the censure should not be passed.

“Why would you ever do this to Justin Moran, great guy,” Gopa said. “He hasn’t done anything other than skipping a bunch of office hours.”

Speaker of the Senate Alexandra Momaney said Moran missed a total of seven weeks of office hours.

“This is pretty serious, these are your duties, this is what you signed up for, it’s in your bylaws, you swore in on the day that you started that you would serve the student body,” Momaney said. 

After the rest of the debate and final comments from Moran, with a vote of 17-1-13, the censure failed to meet the required two-thirds majority of seated senators.

Vice President Quinn Margrett was nominated for a seat on the Iowa State Daily Publication Board. 

“I think it’s incredibly important that we put someone to make sure we have a strong liaison with the Iowa State Daily who can continue to answer your questions,” Margrett said.

Following a debate on the order, Margrett was seated as the designated representative in a 29-0-1 vote. 

Concluding the final meeting of the 2024-25 session, several senators expressed their appreciation and recognition for their fellow members.

“I’m proud to say that my last year here on Student Government has been a phenomenal one,” said Momaney. “With that, for my last time, motion to adjourn, go Cyclones.”