Cheryl Young, senator from the graduate school and chair of the Rules Committee, said she is alarmed by the disturbing turn of events. Young said she believes this is probably the work of one or two people and does not represent the majority of those who have expressed opposition to the bill. She said she is waiting until tonight to decide how she will vote, but does not think politics can be removed from the process. In the three Senate committess, the bill passed one, was tabled in one and no action was taken on the bill by the other. The bill needs a majority of the vote in tonight's meeting to be signed into law.
Senators supporting the bill say they are trying to retain the traditional aspects of Homecoming.
Jason Allen, business and economics senator, said he does not think the bill is intended as an anti-gay statement, but rather a statement in favor of gender equality. We need equal representation of all sexes in Homecoming. Some senators opposed to Johnson's bill have expressed concern that the bill would limit student choice, creating a less tolerant, more exclusive atmosphere in the process. Senator Bill McCamley said Johnson's bill is trying to legislate morality, something he said the Senate has no business doing. McCamley will likely be proposing a new bill involving changes to the Homecoming election process.