After Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed House Bill 1523, also known as the ‘religious liberties act,’ into law, the state of Mississippi was on the receiving end of nation-wide criticism similar to other states that passed relatable laws. Soon after the signing, Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum released a statement edging around the bill that said ‘recent legislation’ would not affect the policy of inclusion at MSU.
 During one of the MSU Student Association’s business meetings Tuesday, Senator Drew Baker presented Resolution 10 written by himself and Senator Logan Reeves which closely resembled Keenum’s statement and said the legislation passed by the state would not alter the SA’s established drive towards diversity.
 “It echoes many things that Keenum stated,” Baker said. “Nothing in the resolution goes against what Keenum said. It’s all very similar, it hits on all the same main points, it’s just phrased a little differently.”
 However, Senator Katie Bryan drew issue with the resolution, and the minutes from the meeting reflect that she motioned for it to be tabled and reviewed by a committee for re-drafting. Baker said the motion to table his resolution passed with a small majority.
 “I didn’t feel like passing it would help MSU in any way,” Bryan said. “Either way you feel about the house bill you can’t speak for the entire campus. I feel like it would have been entirely pointless. People would have been unhappy about it either way. It’s a done deal.”
 Baker said the resolution also urges the state legislature to pass laws in the future that benefit all citizens.
 Reeves said the purpose of Resolution 10 was not to condone HB 1523, and he wants to make it known that this resolution does not make a stance on HB 1523.
 “It seems to me a certain degree of politicality has been inserted into the passing of this resolution and I believe that is unfortunate. There is no affirmation or defamation of that legislation that was signed by Governor Bryant,” Reeves said. “It merely stated that Mississippi has been receiving some negative press in the wake of the signing of the bill and that as SA at MSU remain we unwavering in our mission to foster that diversity and inclusive atmosphere at our campus.”
 While Baker and Reeves said the focus of the resolution is not on the house bill but rather on the actions of MSU SA, Bryan said the draft of Resolution 10 submitted to the Senate mentions HB 1523 specifically, and the file name for the resolution document is ‘HB 1523 Resolution.’
 MSU SA President Roxanne Raven said she plans on releasing a statement concerning Resolution 10 soon. She said she was shocked the resolution did not pass unanimously when it was brought to the table.
 “I support what (Baker) was doing and his reasoning behind the bill itself and I liked the language a lot,” Raven said. “I’m really proud of it and I encourage (the Senate) to pass the resolution. I really hope I get to sign it.” 

Bryan said she believes passing the resolution would be disrespectful to the state legislature, and would cause a ‘stink’ between people.

“Personally, I would like to scratch the whole idea,” Bryan said. 

Both Baker and Reeves said they plan on pushing the resolution through the committee process during the committee meeting next Tuesday, and each said they want to bring it back to the table during the next business meeting the following Tuesday.
 “I really think that students should rally behind this resolution because that’s something that we at MSU pride ourselves on doing is being a welcoming and open campus,” Reeves said. “That is how I want my university to be portrayed in the national spotlight.”