Faculty Senate passed a resolution concerning consenting relationships on campus during their meeting Tuesday. The resolution asked for the current consenting relationship policy to be removed in its entirety and to be completely replaced.

The resolution states that it “prohibits consenting romantic or sexual relationships between all employees and/or students when a professional and/or an educational power differential exists between the persons involved in such a relationship.”

The Resolution for Update of Consenting Relationships Policy passed with 24 senators in favor, 2 against and 3 abstentions. It was sent to President Allison Garrett yesterday, according to Steve Lovett, president of Faculty Senate and assistant professor of business administration.

The resolution also requests that persons in a relationship on campus that would violate this policy to disclose their situation and asks that a management plan be made to “eliminate or avoid power differentials.”

Dan Miller, senator and associate professor of Mathematics and Economics, questioned why this topic would be passed as a resolution instead of a bill. “Why is this being done is a resolution rather than a proposal?” Miller said.

“It seems to me that (we’re) saying ‘We need a change’…and then explaining a pretty detailed philosophy that should go behind a policy, (without having an actual policy).”

The reason for the resolution is that the policy originated in the Presidents Office, according to Gregory Schneider, second vice president and professor of social sciences.

“I feel like that cedes authority to administration unnecessarily,” said Michael Behrens, senator and assistant professor of English, modern languages and journalism. “I understand your reasons (to make it a resolution), I just don’t agree with it.”

The next Faculty Senate meeting will be at 3:30p.m. Oct. 30 in the Skyline room.