LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)-- The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Student Government Association sent out a resolution condemning the university's actions following the suicide of Basil Brown.

Earlier in the week on Monday, many students gathered for a protest on campus from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. When the protest ended many students went to the SGA meeting which takes place every Monday. 

“We hope to give the opportunity every week for students to come and voice their concerns about what's going on on campus. So we felt it was great that they came,” Colby Hebert, president of SGA, said.

The protest's three demands were voiced, including changes to the emergency notification system, welfare checks and counseling services. Hebert said one of the members from the SGA Senate drafted up a resolution in response and senators and different college delegations had the opportunity to hear different testimonies from members and students that were in the back of the room that came from the protest, as well as just share their own thoughts on the resolution. 

“We've made very clear some different action items and different points that we feel have real potential for improvement on campus," Hebert said.

One was the wellness check policy on campus. In that resolution, it calls for an investigation into that process. Hebert said the hope is that if there are deficiencies in that process, there is an opportunity to improve. Another is for the emergency notification system to go beyond just when there is an immediate threat and to expand it to even if there is just a crime scene on campus or any kind of active investigation or any active scene on campus. 

“We're in constant communication with different university officials and administration working to ensure that students are advocated for at all times,” Hebert said. “I think this is just a really pivotal moment for our community and this is a really great opportunity for everyone to come together. We have seen students process this situation in their own individual way, whether it be the protest or through social media or prayer or whatever it may be. Everybody's processing grief on their own and so we just encourage this as a time for everyone to really come together and do their best to keep their voices lifted and advocate for the change they want to see.”

A statement sent to News 10 said:

The president of the university has not been formally presented with the Student Government Association resolution. He meets weekly with the leadership of the SGA and works closely with them to address issues of importance to our student body.

Eric B. Maron, Senior Communications Representative

News 10 asked what would happen to the policies if changed after the current administration graduates.

"That'll definitely be up to the next administration and how they want to pursue enacting these policies and these policy changes," The SGA president said. "Each SGA has an opportunity to work closely with university administrations. So it'll really be up to them to engage in their own way. I know that just like us, they're going to do their best to make sure that when students bring an issue to the table that they investigate and advocate for those things.”

Hebert said they have midterms the are approaching, but the next administration that begins on Monday will work with the current administration to see if policies can be improved. 

The university sent information on the Counseling & Testing Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette stating it is staffed by six full-time counselors and eight graduate assistant interns. A staff counselor is on call around the clock, every day of the year. All clients are triaged by a staff counselor prior to entering counseling. Those who are having suicidal thoughts, have attempted suicide, or have received inpatient psychiatric care are seen by a staff counselor.

Prospective interns are referred by their counseling professors during their last year of instruction and are interviewed by staff counselors prior to acceptance. Interns conduct sessions only during regular office hours, and while their supervisor is across the hall. Interns don’t conduct evaluations.

Interns meet with their supervisors for at least three hours each week. Videotaped sessions, documentation, and discussion of cases and therapeutic strategies are reviewed during individual supervision.

In addition, more than 160 students have sought assistance and support at the Counseling & Testing Center since April 7.

Furthermore, in response to the students and faculty members we lost: The University of Louisiana at Lafayette protects the privacy of students and employees who have died in accordance with legal requirements and best practices.  The University publicly recognizes the death of a student or employee via the University’s social media pages based on guidelines set forth in UL Lafayette’s Student and Employee Death Notification Policy. The policy “provides an orderly, effective, and caring response in the event of the death of a Student or Employee.” A student or employee who has died is typically recognized on the day of their funeral service or another appropriate date if no funeral service will be held. The recognition includes the person’s name, major for students, title/department for employees, hometown, and, if available, a link to their obituary.

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