Senior Matt Mogavero asked the Student Government Association to increase their involvement in the state-level gun control debate at their weekly joint session meeting on March 27.

Mogavero spearheaded both the walkout on March 14 and March For Our Lives Boston—two events aimed at lobbying for improved gun legislation and honoring the victims of the Parkland, Florida shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Mogavero asked SGA to draft a letter to Massachusetts House Speaker Robert Deleo (D-Winthrop) to ask for his support on two gun reform bills aimed at restricting individuals labeled as an extreme risk from owning or purchasing a firearm. Executive President Annie Makielski called an informal vote to gauge student government representative’s interest—a majority said they would like to further explore the option.

“I just think that as a school, I’d like to see that we’re a little more proactive about this sort of thing instead of [waiting until] another Columbine or Sandy Hook or Parkland happens,” Mogavero said. “We should grasp the momentum we have right now.”

Mogavero said he talked to Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Sylvia Spears about getting involved in the National Education Association’s day of action on April 20. He hoped Emerson could participate by hosting advocacy training or a voter registration drive. Executive Treasure Ian Mandt said SGA may offer financial support for a voter registration event by booking space or providing food to draw students to the event.

SGA also approved two appeals for Flawless Brown and the Emerson Poetry Project.

SGA unanimously approved an appeal from Flawless Brown for $2,159 to pay for printing costs of their magazine, Flawless Mag: The Harmony Issue, and to fund a launch party.

SGA granted an appeal to Emerson Poetry Project for $5,370 to cover the cost of flights, hotel, and food for ten people heading to the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational—a poetry competition at Temple University in Pennsylvania.