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![The GW Student Association passed legislation encouraging the creation of a university-wide Peer Support Program, a program that SA President Nick Gumas had hoped would pass in the Senate. Photo Courtesy: Student Association](http://www.news.gwradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/New-SA-Logo-300x300.jpg)
The GW Student Association passed legislation encouraging the creation of a university-wide Peer Support Program, a program that SA President Nick Gumas had hoped would pass in the Senate.
Photo Courtesy: Student Association
The Student Association passed legislation Monday night encouraging the creation of a university-wide peer support program.
The program was one of SA President Nick Gumas’ major goals for the year.
The legislation, which passed unanimously, was sponsored by U-At-Large Senator Omeed Firouzi, who argued that the Senate’s support was important in assembling “everything that is needed to make sure that this is a sufficient and robust program for students.”
The program aims to create a phone line that students can call to speak to other students, as well as establishing other resources to connect students in need of support to peers who have been trained on how to help them. Those involved in the program would go through a semester of training.
Victoria Goncalves, CCAS-U, who co-sponsored the legislation, explained that other universities have implemented similar programs, and “we’re basing it off of other programs that have been successful,” she said.
The idea has received broad support in the wake of multiple student deaths last semester, as well as the recent passing of junior William Gwathmey.
The Senate also considered legislation to allow student organizations to revise the events they are approved to spend SA funds on during a 30-day period after the start of classes.
The legislation was ultimately sent back to the Finance Committee for revision after concerns about whether the proposed changes were the best way to make the process simpler and clearer for organizations.
A $23,000 co-sponsorship with the Black Student Union was approved by the Senate, allowing the BSU to book Judy Smith to speak during Black Heritage Month. Smith is a crisis consultant and the inspiration for the ABC series “Scandal.”
The Senate’s next meeting will take place on the Mount Vernon Campus at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 6.