Student Government Association (SGA) President Tyler Martinez (26C) opened the organization’s first public meeting in 175 days by “acknowledging the significance” of the session on Oct. 6. Emory University’s Office of Student Conduct suspended SGA for actions “potentially constituting discriminatory harassment” on April 14, resulting in a six-month pause in normal operations.
In outlining goals for the upcoming year, Martinez highlighted several areas on which SGA hopes to focus.
“We have a lot to address now that we’re back,” Martinez said. “There are challenges to confront, systems to improve and opportunities to create meaningful impact for every student on this campus.”
During the meeting, Board of Elections Chair Elizabeth Brubaker (24Ox, 26C) introduced a resolution which legislators voted to pass, calling on the University to restore diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
“We’re asking that DEI principles be put into University policy, so that it has the opportunity to remain a part of Emory DNA,” Brubaker said.
Brubaker said the resolution was in response to Interim University President Leah Ward Sears’ (80L) Sept. 3 announcement that the University will end its DEI programs. The text of the resolution calls on Sears and the Board of Trustees to reinstate DEI policies and clarify how policy changes will impact students.
The resolution will include a student referendum to assess student support for SGA’s statement, sent within two weeks of the meeting. In 2024, SGA sent a similar referendum to evaluate student support through a vote assessing confidence in former University President and current Chancellor Gregory Fenves.
The legislation was co-sponsored by Martinez, Executive Vice President Zoe Grotjan (24Ox, 26C), Speaker of the Legislature Sohan Bellam (26C), College Council President Vlad Senenko (27C), College Council Vice President Braden Newsome (25Ox, 27C) and Vice President of Student Wellbeing Asmita Lehther (24Ox, 26C). Additionally, Brubaker said the resolution is supported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Georgia and the Georgia National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Georgia NAACP President Gerald Griggs (98Ox, 00C) confirmed their support for the resolution in a statement to The Emory Wheel. Griggs emphasized the importance of the resolution for the Emory community.
“As SGA resumes its work after the recent suspension, it is more important than ever that student voices guide the University’s commitment to fairness, opportunity, and inclusion,” Griggs wrote. “This resolution represents a clear, student-driven call for policies that embed these principles into Emory’s DNA, ensuring that all members of our community can thrive.”
The ACLU of Georgia did not confirm its support of the resolution by press time.
SGA Speaker of the Legislature Sohan Bellam (26C) reflected on how SGA plans to face current uncertainty surrounding DEI policies in an interview with The Emory Wheel.
“We’ll keep asking questions,” Bellam said. “SGA’s [Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging] work is completely protected by the University’s Open Expression Policy and won’t stop.”
Martinez highlighted the importance of SGA’s internal commitment to DEI values.
“It’s easy to pass bills and say that we’re committed to it, but showing up for the community is another thing, and we’re definitely committed to showing up,” Martinez said.
Additionally, SGA introduced and passed a resolution calling on Emory to defend its community members in the face of federal funding attacks. This resolution included a similar referendum to be distributed to students within two weeks of its passage.
The resolution calls on Sears and the University’s Board of Trustees to enact a policy preventing Emory employees “from voluntarily providing information or assistance in response to a request” from government authorities seeking to impose penalties based on speech, to help apprehend a person for immigration detention proceedings, or investigate the sex or gender of a community member.
Brubaker, who introduced the resolution with the same co-sponsors as the previous one, said the second resolution is in response to threats to freedom of expression, immigrant communities and LGBTQ+ youth on higher education campuses.
SGA introduced and passed a bill to add naloxone, also known by its brand name Narcan, a medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, to the Health Access Machine Initiative. In April, SGA unveiled a Health Access Machine that provides students with free menstrual products, bandages, medication and other supplies.
SGA members also discussed the possibility of creating opportunities to share instructions and training on administering naloxone.
Reflecting on the first SGA meeting of this semester, Bellam said he has three main hopes for SGA this year: defending Emory against the federal government, increasing transparency between SGA and students, and helping SGA foster a stronger connection with the Emory community. Martinez also emphasized similar objectives for SGA following the suspension.
“As we considered our goals for this year, four guiding principles emerged: transparency, meaningful change, inclusivity and action,” Martinez said. “Values that will shape every decision we make and every initiative we launch as a student government.”
Over the rest of his term, Martinez said that he hopes to facilitate further communication with the student body and the Emory administration, noting previous concerns with University leadership’s decisions.
“I hope that this shows a reaffirmed commitment from SGA to protect the student body as well as hold the administration accountable for decisions that haven’t included students or haven’t kept our best interests in mind,” Martinez said.
Update (10/08/2025 at 1:26 a.m.): This piece was updated to include a statement from the Georgia NAACP.
