Under the imposing architecture of Goodhart Hall and online, 545 students gathered to participate in a central Bryn Mawr tradition: Plenary.
Plenary is “a place where resolutions can be written and presented by any member of the Association (undergraduate student body), and seek out student support on the issue their resolution raises” according to the Student Government Association website, is held twice a year and is one of most important pieces of Bryn Mawr’s student-governance.
This year, there were eleven resolutions presented, with the first five being recommitments and updates to existing student governance practices. In the days following Plenary, which happened this year on Sunday March 23, students voted on the presented resolutions, and results were released the afternoon of March 31.
The first five resolutions were all concerned with reaffirming existing student governance practice Resolution 1, which was titled “Reaffirmation of the SGA Constitution“ is commonly presented every spring. According to the resolution itself, it is designed to reaffirm Bryn Mawr’s “commitment to the spirit of self-governance, the Honor Code, and the SGA Constitution.” This resolution passed, with a 99.7% majority.
Resolution 2, which was titled “Recommitment to the Values of the Honor Code”, is also commonly presented every spring. This resolution called for Bryn Mawr students to “reaffirm our commitment as the Self-Government Association to the values of the Bryn Mawr College Honor Code.” This resolution passed with a 98.7% majority.
Resolution 3, which was titled “Updates to the Honor Code to Reflect and Clarify Current Restorative Practices,” detailed updates to “help standardize the practices from one tenure to the next and create more equitable resolution processes in which all students are given the same due process and have a better understanding of said process,” according to the resolution itself. This resolution passed with 97.6% of voters in favor.
Resolution four, which was titled “Student Finance Committee (SFC) Bylaws Updates,” explained proposed modernizations for student involvement in finances. According to the resolution, “the SGA Treasurers, Leilani Soriano and Jet Taylor, have updated the SFC Bylaws to reflect accuracy and practice.” This resolution passed with 94.7% in favor.
Resolution five, which was titled, “Updates to Plenary Procedures in the SGA [Student Government Association] Constitution,” was a similar case of updating existing practices. The resolution read, “the SGA Constitution has several protocols and procedures for how Plenary and voting on resolutions should be conducted, which have not been updated to reflect changes…These changes have been maintained and altered in practice for the sake of promoting accessibility and engagement with Plenary proceedings.” This resolution passed with a 95.4% majority.
After the first five resolutions, students began presenting resolutions designed to create new policies or programs. This began with resolution 6, titled, “Compensation of Advocacy Group Leaders on Campus.” This resolution aimed to “create a fund in the form of two types of grants for advocacy groups and AMOs. One fund is for these organizations as a whole that is meant to support specific club activities and initiatives , and the other is a need-based individual stipend meant for individual members of an Executive Board, particularly those who identify as first-generation, low-income (FGLI),” according to the resolution itself. Students then were encouraged to present their questions and comments. Students voiced concerns about where the money for such compensation would come from, and if such a resolution would mean budget cuts for clubs elsewhere. This resolution passed with a 60.8% majority.
Accessibility of the undergraduate academic experience was a central topic for Resolutions 7 and 8, which proposed the creation of a Disability Studies minor and the allowance of post-matriculation credit transfer from two-year colleges. Both resolutions received comments from students in favor. Resolution 7 presenters Aimee Crozat ‘27, Esénia Bañuelos ‘26, and Ayante Cunningham ‘25 called for the creation of an interdisciplinary, Tri-College minor in Disability Studies in the face of attacks on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility by the Trump Administration. The proposed minor would be developed with both administration and students and would be hosted at Bryn Mawr, although credit-bearing courses could be taken at any of the three colleges. The resolution passed with 95% of voters in favor.
Resolution 8 presenter Jai Abbott ‘27 stated that this resolution would amend the current college policy that allows students to gain credits at four-year colleges and universities to allow for credits to be gained from community colleges. Abbott cited the extreme cost disparity between courses taken at four-year colleges versus community colleges, stating that allowing for the transfer of these credits would lessen some of the financial burden for Bryn Mawr’s first-generation and/or low-income students. Abbott also clarified that this resolution would not change any of the other requirements for credit transfer and does not cover community college credits taken in high school, as those credits are already accepted by the college. Resolution 8 also passed with over 90% of votes.
Resolution 9 was one of the most anticipated resolutions at Plenary, with presenters Bi-Co Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), Bryn Mawr Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), and Batten House distributing posters and pamphlets around campus in the days leading up to Plenary. Resolution 9 calls for Bryn Mawr administration to cut ties with two study abroad programs in Israel, University of Haifa and Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The presenters stated that these programs and universities “actively participate in the ongoing oppression and genocide of Palestinians” and cited last year’s resolution for a ceasefire along with historical action against apartheid in South Africa.
The presenters also supported their resolution with the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI)’s call for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions, quotes from the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), and scholar Maya Wind about the importance of academic boycotts.
The first three comments on this resolution were all previously-written statements from members of Bi-Co Atidna although not speaking on behalf of the organization, all of whom were against the resolution. The students cited worries that ending these study abroad programs would discourage activism.
The presenters responded to these comments by emphasizing that this resolution is in direct response to calls for a boycott from Palestinian organizations, the suppression of student activism on these campuses, and the fact that a total of 17 students have studied abroad through these programs since their inception in 1983, and none at either since at least 2018.
Several other students spoke out in favor of the resolution, adding that it would not prevent Bryn Mawr students from studying abroad in Israel or prevent Israeli students from coming to Bryn Mawr. The resolution passed with 80% of voters in favor.
The sheer number of comments on various resolutions as well as the prevalence of ad hominem comments in recent years have led SGA to consider changes in the structure of Plenary. Incoming SGA President Esénia Bañuelos ‘26 told the Bi-Co News in an interview that some of these changes could be getting Plenary packets out to students earlier than the day of or instituting time limits on comments. However, Bañuelos stressed that none of these potential changes are final in any way and that the perspectives and needs of all students would need to be taken into account before making significant changes. Bañuelos also told the Bi-Co News that she believes that “Plenary should be about responding to resolutions, not responding to another student’s response to a resolution.”
The final two resolutions centered on topics of accessibility, the environment, and student life. Resolution 10, presented by Esther Rosi-Kessel & Samantha Gass, which proposes a change to the on-campus streetlights to lower energy usage, aid visibility on campus, and reduce light pollution. These changes would create guidelines for the type of light bulbs used in on-campus streetlights, as well as add downward-facing shades to the tops of streetlights. Many students spoke out in favor of this resolution, stating that they had been personally affected by poor on-campus lighting or enjoyed stargazing. Margaret, a sophomore, stated that “the least that we can do as a community is to change [on-campus lighting] for students who need things like this to be changed.” The resolution passed with 90% of the vote.
Resolution 11, presented by Kathleen Ferrer, who was unable to attend Plenary and thus could not present the resolution, called for the placement of paper towels in all bathrooms on campus. Many students spoke out both in favor and in opposition to this resolution. Students who were in favor spoke about accessibility issues for both disabled and low-income students. Those against the resolution mostly cited the waste that these paper towels would generate and dismissed the inconvenience of students drying their hands on their clothing or their own towel. This was easily the most contentious resolution, as it failed to pass, with voters divided into 30% in favor, 60% against and 10% abstaining.
In addition to presenting resolutions, the upcoming May Day theme was also revealed. Honor Board Head Katelyn Stealey donned a flower crown and sunglasses and asked audience members to look under their seats. After a few moments of looking, a student found a slip of paper revealing the May Day theme to be “An Athena Exhibition: One Day of Peace and Music,” taking inspiration from the Woodstock music festival and the culture of the 1960s and 70s.
