At a heated legislative session last Sunday, the Vassar Student Association (VSA) narrowly passed a controversial resolution calling for a resolution to be passed at an unspecified future date. The resolution met with staunch opposition from opponents, who criticized it for its strong language and rigid framework. Despite this, the resolution—which stated in unequivocal terms that “the VSA may or may not, at the discretion of the Senate, adopt or not adopt a future resolution at such time as the VSA sees or does not see fit”—received the support of exactly 66 percent of senators and was officially adopted by the VSA.
The resolution, carefully crafted by the VSA’s subcommittee on resolutions and subcommittees, sparked vigorous debate across campus in the weeks preceding the vote, with strongly held opinions on both sides. Those in the pro-resolution camp heralded its specificity and boldness, while those opposed called it “a dangerous precedent” and an example of legislative overreach by the VSA. Ultimately, however, the inspiring message and timeliness of the resolution won out, and its passage heralds an exciting new era for the VSA.
The VSA has now vested itself with the power to adopt another resolution in the future, should the resolutions subcommittee find it appropriate to do so. When and if this does become the case, constituents can expect a four-to-six-week timeframe for a framework to reach the Senate floor, with a further period of three weeks allocated for discussion and amendments.
It is this hastiness that made the resolution such a flashpoint.
“Frankly, the VSA’s decision to pass a resolution allowing it to adopt a resolution at an unspecified time down the line strikes me as wildly irresponsible,” one member of the class of 2025 said. “In a sane and reasonable world, the VSA would pass a resolution allowing it to consider the possibility of resolving to adopt a third resolution after a waiting period of no less than three to seven business years.”
Although many members of the Vassar community shared these concerns, the resolution resolution has now passed the Senate and all agree that we have passed the point of no return. Once adopted, the resolution cannot be revoked—unless, that is, the VSA convenes an emergency subcommittee on redactions and revocations, a move it is only permitted to make in times of drastic need.
Whether this unprecedented moment qualifies is up to the discretion of the VSA President. Should the President deem it necessary, a quorum of Senators can be convened to vote on the possibility of adopting a resolution allowing for the formation of a subcommittee to consider whether to form an emergency subcommittee.