Elon University SGA Votes to Uphold Veto on Legislation to Remo

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Elon SGA holds their second open forum on Chick-Fil-A’s presence on campus to a packed house.

Elon University SGA voted to uphold Exectuive President Darien Flowers’ veto on recent legislation that called for the removal of Chick-Fil-A from Elon’s campus.  The senate needed a 2/3 majority to override the original 35-11 vote to remove the on-campus dining facility.  The vote to override the veto and support the original legislation needed at least 27 votes.  The final vote was 21-20.

Nearly 30 students and various faculty and staff members voiced their opinion on the controversial issue that has swept Elon’s campus in the second open forum.

“I was afraid to speak my opinion tonight because I would be labeled anti-gay,” sophomore Lauren Bolusky said.

“To see students walking around with three Chick-Fil-A sandwiches in one hand was actually heartbreaking,” sophomore Delaney McHugo said.

The forum was heated to say the least as almost all of the students who spoke felt strongly one way or another.  The Chick-Fil-A issue has created a swirl of controversy both on Elon’s campus as well as in local and national media.  Media outlets such as The Burlington Times-News, Fox News, and Perez Hilton have all covered the Chick-Fil-A debate on campus, and there was local media present at the open forum last night, as well.

After the original vote to call for the removal of Chick-Fil-A, many students felt both relieved and upset about the tradition.  On October 21, Executive President of SGA Darien Flowers exercised his right to veto the legislation.

“I am taking a position on my belief that is the Elon way to let truth, light, and free expression lead us to make the right decisions and to choose the right course for our lives,” Flowers said in a statement about his veto.

SGA Executive President Darien Flowers (far middle) overlooks the senators as they vote on whether or not to overturn his veto.

Ultimately, the decision about the fast food chain’s future with the university will lie on the board of trustee’s.