By passing a resolution supporting the addition of gender expression to the non-discrimination clause in the M-book, the Missouri Students Association continued pushing MU’s diversity initiative ahead.

“Especially with Mizzou having such a big priority on diversity, I feel like nothing should be excluded from the non-discrimination clause,” MSA senator Sandy Patel said.

Patel authored the bill.

In the fall, the non-discrimination clause will be changed to include race, ethnicity, pregnancy, color, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and status as a U.S. veteran (disabled, Vietnam or other), according to MSA legislation. This change will modernize the clause, which has not been updated since 1989. The clause previously did not include ethnicity, pregnancy or gender identity.

“I think it’s something that everyone is progressively working toward,” Multicultural Affairs Committee chairwoman Lakeisha Williams said.

Williams worked with Donell Young, senior coordinator of the Office of Student Conduct, on the new clause last semester.

According to the resolution, MSA hopes to inspire MU students, faculty, staff and administration to advocate for the language’s implementation.

Patel said she believes that being transgender shouldn’t be cause for discrimination.

“I took upon having transgender language in the M-book to make sure that everyone is welcomed on this campus and no one gets discriminated (against) for anything,” she said.

According to the resolution, a 2009 Climate Study states that 57.1 percent of transgender students report having experienced harassment on college campuses.

“It was crazy to know that, that many transgender (students), over half of them, are being abused or not treated right,” Patel said. “It definitely needed to be priority of Mizzou’s and just the students’ in general.”

Community and Campus Relations Chairman Mason Schara agreed transgender students and staff deserve to be included in the non-discrimination clause.

“Our committee and I are fully supportive of it,” he said. “Transgendered students should have the right to be protected underneath all guidelines of the university.”

During the spring 2011 semester, the Office of Student Conduct and MCI began working on adding a non-discrimination clause to the student conduct code, which affects all UM System campuses. Changing the language in the M-book, which only affects MU, is the first step to a large-scale change.

In order for the student conduct code to be updated with a non-discrimination clause UM System wide, the UM System Board of Curators must approve it.

In a [previous Maneater article](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2011/9/27/multicultural-issues-committee-office-student-cond/), Young said the new clause is to help students better understand what MU deems acceptable.

“We want transparency,” he said. “Because we hope that (when) students are aware of the rules and understand what they can get in trouble for, that will prevent students from breaking the rules.”

Although Williams was not involved with the writing of MSA’s resolution, she said she agreed with the sentiment of the legislation.

“I think it’s worth it as an effort to make sure it’s staying on the radar,” she said.