Legislation at the Student Government Association meeting dealt with extending benefits and opening doors.

SGA passed a resolution supporting domestic partner benefits at Western and a bill to install an automatic door opener on campus at its meeting Tuesday.

The resolution encourages Western’s administration to extend insurance and pension benefits to domestic partners of Western employees.

The resolution states the Human Rights Campaign defines domestic partners as “two individuals who are in a long-term committed relationship and are responsible for each other’s financial and emotional well-being.”

Chief of Staff Brittany-Ann Wick said 16 senators voted for the resolution, one voted against it and one abstained.

Executive Vice President Skylar Jordan, author of the bill, said it’s time for Western to respect its employees and help them out.

He said he was pleased the resolution passed, and his goal now is to get the support of the University Senate and faculty members.

President Gary Ransdell said he hasn’t seen or read the resolution.

He said the university doesn’t have a position on it, and the matter hasn’t received formal discussion.

Ransdell said the issue would have to go before Western’s benefits committee.

The bill to purchase an automatic door opener passed unanimously.

SGA President Kayla Shelton, author of the bill, said there’s been a cry for accessibility on campus, and she wanted to do something about it.

She said doors at some places on campus, such as the fine arts center, are hard for people who use wheelchairs to open.

Shelton originally wanted to put in several doors, but each of them cost from $8,000 to $10,000, she said.

Shelton said she doesn’t know where the door will be placed yet.

Administrative Vice President Reagan Gilley said the funding will come from the left over money from organizational aid and from money for campus improvements.

Jordan also announced during his officer report that he’s canceling SGA’s spring banquet.

He said he doesn’t feel comfortable spending thousands of dollars on SGA for the banquet.

“We need to be spending it on the students,” Jordan said about SGA money.

He said if SGA members still want to have a banquet, they can write legislation supporting it.

The senate also nominated candidates for speaker of the senate next year.

Louisville sophomore Wade Pierce and Greensburg freshman Ronnie Santana, both senators, were nominated.

Santana’s nomination is pending his acceptance because he wasn’t at the meeting.

The senate will vote for the position at its next meeting, Jordan said.