(Student) Senate approves SOPA resolution
February 2, 2012
By Colin Mann
Although the two leading anti-piracy bills currently in the US legislature have had their progress halted, support for the measures has come from one element of the student community.
After reviewing a Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect Intellectual Property Act resolution that was tabled at a previous meeting, the Student Senate at the Eastern Illinois University in Charleston has voted unanimously to approve it.
John Poshepny, a Student Senate member, co-authored the resolution with fellow Student Senate members Mitchell Gurick and Jenna Mitchell. “Even though SOPA and PIPA are currently tabled, they could come back in some other form and it is good that we show our support,” Poshepny said.
In addition to the resolution passing, the Student Senate members also collected a total of 335 letters to send to US Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk.
The next steps in the process are for the Student Senate members to write a letter explaining their process and send the student-signed letter. “A lot of people, especially new senators, stepped up and did what it took, showing they still care and we’re still interested as a whole,” said Gurick.