The Student Government Association senate unanimously approved a resolution on Tuesday supporting “integrated medical education curriculum” for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health.

The resolution stated that “further LGBTQ+ healthcare will increase effectiveness of care, including in clinicals and the marketability of graduates.”

“Patients who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming or born with differences of sex development face significant health disparities,” states the resolution. “Many of these disparities originate from discrimination and systemic biases that decrease access to care and from inadequate provider knowledge that contributes to unmet medical needs.”

It was co-authored by Mark Clark, the diversity and inclusion committee chair, Conner Hounshell, SGA chief of staff, and Kara Lowry, administrative vice president. The resolution was approved unanimously by the senate.

David Oliver, director of environmental health and safety, also spoke at the meeting about ideas to promote campus safety.

Oliver said his department developed a training program about a year ago. He said his department has developed a “workshop-style program” based on the concept of running, hiding and fighting.

“We would like to jumpstart that program to get it out to the student population,” Oliver said.

Oliver said he had meetings discussing the employee-health side of the plan.

“We’re [going to] provide health points towards the point system for faculty and staff if they attend that workshop,” Oliver said.

He would like to explore the possibility of students also attending the workshop and that his department wants to reach out to students.

“My department, one of the things we always struggle with, is how to reach students,” Oliver said. “It’s not just working sporting events and venues, but it’s protecting students as well.”

Oliver said he and his department would like to provide awareness for pedestrian and vehicle safety on campus, and he said they were open to working with SGA.

Oliver also said they had ideas for “municipal programs” for the pedestrian-crossing areas and for weather awareness.

During the meeting, the senate also voted to appoint a new committee chair for the Diversity and Inclusion committee. Due to scheduling conflicts, Corey Newsome, the previous committee chair, stepped down from his position, SGA President Andi Dahmer said.

Mark Clark, the committee’s vice president who also sponsored the healthcare resolution, was approved as the new committee chair.

SGA voted to appoint a new senator. WKU freshman Noah Moore applied in October to become a senator. Moore is involved with HOLAS, international students, the Greek community and the Honors community, Dahmer said. Moore is also a features reporter for the Herald.

“I was very impressed with his involvement across campus,” Dahmer said. “I think he represents a great cross-section of the population.”

Moore is an international affairs and Spanish double major with a minor in Arabic.

“I think working within the community would be a really cool thing,” Moore said in his appointment speech.

SGA unanimously approved Moore’s nomination.

SGA also voted on a bill that proposed funding for a computer in the Pride Center.

The proposed amount for the computer was $150. That amount would be directed to the Intercultural Student Engagement Center for a recycled computer, according to the bill.

The Senate unanimously approved the bill.

News reporter Nicole Ziege can be reached at 270-745-6011 and [email protected]. Follow Nicole Ziege on Twitter at @NicoleZiege.