SENATE Indigenous Peoples Day Bill Author: President R. Duarte & Vice President A. Rashid Session: CCXXIII OF THE ASWC SENATE BILL 6 ~2015 WHEREAS a significant importance of our cultural diversity on campus is widely recognized as a key component of the academic and social experience at Whittier College; WHEREAS there is undeniable evidence that Christopher Columbus was an advocate for slavery, a facilitator for genocide, and a profiteer of sexual slavery/human trafficking [1]; WHEREAS our namesake, John Greenleaf Whittier, was a strong abolitionist against slavery and other major humanitarian crimes; WHEREAS Whittier College emphasizes its pride in its namesake's role in American history but also in its Quaker ties which also denounce slavery and other major humat ian crimes; WHEREAS Columbus Day is a national holiday which celebrates Christopher Columbus as an explorer of a Jand which was already settled: not officially celebrating Columbus Day with events, does WHEREAS by celebration and recognition of Columbus Day, there is a celebration of the excruciatingly large numbers of death due to the genocide Christopher Columbus began and supported; WHEREAS the cultures of Indigenous Peoples who survived these genocide are symbolically taunted by the official celebration and recognition of Columbus Day; WHEREAS there is already a trend across the nation in Colleges, Cities, Counties, and States to officially switching from the federal holiday of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day: LET IT BE RESOLVED that on this day, the 12" of October 2015, Columbus Day, the ASWC Senate takes a stance against major humanitarian crimes of slavery and genocide; LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that with such stance, the ASWC Senate respectfully requests that Whittier College as an institution no longer recognizes or celebrates Columbus Day in any capacity including contracted companies: LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that Columbus Day would officially be replaced with Indigenous Peoples Day and that an honest effort by the College to celebrate Indigenous Peoples and their history;SENATE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this bill, which submits the request of the students to omit hypocrisy between our values and our actions and be at the forefront of a movement which is a significant foot forward in the diversity of our nation as we respect the diversity of our campus, be sent to the following Dr. Sharon D. Herzberger Whittier College President Dr. Joel Pérez Vice President and Dean of Students Dr. Darrin Good Vice President and Dean of Faculty Steve Delgado Vice President for Advancement Dr. Michael MeBride Chair of the Faculty & Professor of Political Science Dr. Shauna T. Sobers Director of LEAP & ASWC Administrative Advisor Dr. Sean P. T. Morris Professor of English & ASWC Faculty Liaison Dr. Paul Kjellberg Professor of Philosophy & ASWC Faculty Liaison Luz Maria Galbreath Director of the Ortiz Programs and Interim Director of the Cultural Cemer Alan Lund °71 Board of Trustees Chair Members of the ASWC X "Amer W. Rasta Vice President of ASWC 2015-16 Robert L Ovare Jt President of ASWWC 2015, (1] http://www. huffingtonpost.com/eric-kasum/columbus-day-a-bad-idea_b_742708.html