Dave Loftus and Jay Glogovsky agreed to wear their emotions on their sleeves at Wednesday’s Undergraduate Student Government meeting.

The problem was they could not agree on the length of that sleeve.

Glogovsky, a senator representing Brush Towers, saw his dress code proposal for USG members pass after a debate with Loftus, a senator representing the east side of campus.

The issue of a dress code was discussed for the second consecutive meeting, but the version that passed was much different than the original draft presented Sept. 24. Glogovsky’s original proposal called for senators to wear “business attire,” but the amendment was talked down to “business casual,” and eventually “presentable.”

Though the amendment was not exactly what Glogovsky was hoping for, he said he was happy the government had made progress and passed the amendment.

“We are the elite on campus and we need to present ourselves that way,” Glogovsky said. “I joined this organization with a lot of ambitions and this is just the beginning.”

Loftus, who has served on the senate in the past, said he thought Glogovsky’s motives were noble, but did not believe the amendment would ultimately hurt the senate more than help it.

Loftus said he was concerned the amendment would force senators coming from their jobs or labs to go home and change into professional attire, which would prevent them from representing their constituents.

“I would rather have a senator show up in work clothes and represent their constituents instead of being punished for not having the right attire,” Loftus said.

Krystin McDermott, a senator representing Greek row, softened her position and sided with Glogovsky after having doubts about the amendment at the Sept. 24 meeting.

McDermott came to the aid of Glogovsky in the two-minute debate during the meeting. She said it is important to give off the professional image that is expected out of the senate.

“This isn’t supposed to be hard to follow, but if you know you are going to have to come from class, don’t wear booty shorts because it gives a bad image,” McDermott said.

The senate was complimented at the Sept. 24 meeting for its professional attire by interim Chancellor Sam Goldman and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Larry Dietz.

USG Vice President Vincent Hardy said while he encourages debate, he supported the amendment because those first impressions are important.

Hardy said the council has come a long way since Dietz first came to a meeting a few years back.

“I think the first meeting Dietz ever came to, someone got arrested,” Hardy said. “So I am very proud of what this senate has become, but we have more work to do.”

Some of the work the senate accomplished Wednesday was the approval of five new registered student organizations.

The new RSOs include Celtic Art Society, V-Day Task Force, Saluki Stitches, Hammer and SIUC Dairy Club.

The senate also created an audit committee that will insure the money given to RSOs is used for what the group wrote in its request.

Hardy said the audit committee, along with the addition of financial guidelines to the constitution, should make meetings and the finance committee run smoothly.

Jeff Engelhardt can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 268 or [email protected]