Wichita State Student Senate Approves Police Board Amid Procedural Dispute

The Wichita State Student Senate has approved a new police advisory board, but the legislative process faced significant internal criticism regarding collaboration and amendment opportunities.

The Wichita State Student Senate has formally approved Student Senate Bill 68-165, establishing a new police advisory board. This initiative aims to foster clearer connections between the Wichita State University Police Department (WSUPD), students, faculty, and the surrounding community. Senator Jamie Winslow authored the legislation in collaboration with WSUPD Chief Guy Schroeder, envisioning the board to meet twice each semester.

The bill passed with 21 votes in favor, one opposed, and four abstentions. This approval followed a contentious legislative journey marked by public frustration among senators. Senator Jamie Winslow, the bill's author, expressed significant frustration during its presentation, citing repetitive questions from peers. Half of the eight questions posed during the initial reading of the bill were reportedly repeats, specifically concerning student major requirements for board membership. Winslow also noted a lack of support and collaboration from other senators on the legislation over the preceding week, indicating only one senator responded to his direct request for input.

Conversely, Senator Braeden Miller argued that the bill's author did not provide sufficient opportunity for amendments despite ongoing discussions. Miller stated that initial questions were often requests for adjustments, which the author largely did not accommodate. This perspective was echoed by his motion to table the legislation indefinitely, an action that would prevent its reconsideration within the current session. Miller also highlighted that suggestions made within the Student Services Committee were not taken into consideration. Speaker of the Student Senate Matthew Phan countered this by emphasizing senators' ability to propose amendments during the debate period, asserting that the legislation's merit stood independent of the author's prior actions.

The establishment of the police advisory board creates a formal mechanism for communication, with its members representing various student, faculty, and staff groups. While the board's creation marks a step toward enhanced campus engagement with law enforcement, the debate surrounding its passage highlighted underlying tensions within the student governing body regarding legislative culture. The public exchange of frustrations between senators signals a need for clearer protocols around bill refinement and inter-senator collaboration. Future legislative efforts may now encounter closer scrutiny regarding process, amendment opportunities, and the general environment of debate, as the Student Senate navigates its internal dynamics.