The Undergraduate Student Government Senate unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday evening to make USC more inclusive for students with disabilities.
On the first day of Disability Awareness Month, Sens. Brandon Tavakoli and Jackalyn Karamanougian were joined by USG Accessibility Committee Chair Izzy Del Gaudio to present a bill to promote the inclusion of Trojans affected by disabilities.
The bill highlights two calls to action: an official statement by USC President Carol Folt acknowledging Disability Awareness Month and reaffirming the university’s commitment to the inclusion of its students with disabilities, and the use of the electronic banner at Allyson Felix Field to display a student-designed graphic commemorating Disability Awareness Month this month and every October going forward.
“I hope our Trojans feel seen,” Del Gaudio said. “We want every student to know that they are valued and that their presence matters.”
Speaker of the Senate Diana Carpio offered her support for the resolution.
“Disabilities are not limited to anyone, at any point in your life you could face a disability, so just the awareness you guys are bringing to this and from personal experience, I really appreciate it,” she said.
The Senate also announced that former longtime U.S. Rep. Tony Coelho, author and primary sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act, will visit campus October 15 to discuss disability awareness and field questions.
USC said in a statement to Annenberg Media that they are committed to upholding the values of diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Disability Employment Awareness Month serves as an important reminder that at the university, we all belong and contribute to a community where we can all thrive. USC’s community of individuals with disabilities is vibrant and contributes in all areas of campus life,” said the statement.
In addition to this resolution, Sen. Seva Raman outlined a few new ideas for the future.
First, she suggested shifting the Center for Excellence in Teaching (CET) programming towards open forum-style meetings. A resolution was previously approved to create a board to meet monthly, but Raman is now heading a redirection towards a round-table discussion style to encourage students to attend and give their feedback. The meetings will be held three to four times per semester.
The proposal is set to be created on October 3 and submitted for approval.
Raman said in the meeting that she is also working with USG Chair of Academic Affairs, Emma Fallon, on the Academic Inclusion Council (AIC), which will consist of a board of representatives from each academic school within USC aimed to discuss issues and concerns to create a more collaborative environment. The project has been approved and will likely begin activity next semester.
Finally, she outlined a $500 textbook stipend to be given to a select group of 15 members of the student body, with priority for those with financial need. The proposal has been submitted and is pending approval.