The Student Senate voted to table a resolution against the legislation for Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect Intellectual Property Act at its Wednesday meeting with a vote of 17-12.

“I’m livid and very disappointed with this student leader community,” said John Poshepny, a Student Senate member who presented the resolution.

The resolution was co-authored by Poshepny along with Student Senate members Mitchell Gurick and Jenna Mitchell.

Poshepny’s comment came after the group presented their results of 99 letters signed by students in disagreement with the SOPA and PIPA. The group also presented a PowerPoint presentation that explained the proposals as well as the pros and cons of supporting it.

The members discussed and questioned the resolution, with many members questioning why there were not more letters signed and urging the group to get more.

Gregory Schoonover, a newly inducted student senate member, voiced his support of SOPA and PIPA stating he would like to know more about students’ reasoning before voting on the resolution.

“Why are they against it? Are they just afraid they won’t be able to download illegally anymore?” Schoonover said, “I want to know the reasoning and be more informed.”

Student Senate Speaker Zach Samples told the members if they were to table it, he would expect more participation and focus from all of the members.

“There have been emails all through the week, and you need to sift through them and step up to the plate sooner instead of just when it reaches the floor,” Samples said.

Gurick said tabling the resolution disappointed him.

“Yes, I am disappointed but I look beyond that disappointment and see that we now have 17 more people willing to help us find out the student position and voice that opinion,” Gurrick said. ” I encourage other student leaders to take a stand.”

After tabling the resolution, Gurick, Mitchell and Poshepny passed around a sign-up sheet to work a table in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union with the letters throughout the next week.

They also passed out copies of the letters so the Student Senate members could discuss them in their classes.

The members also tabled a proposal for funds to travel to the Illinois Board of Higher Education Student Advisory Committee meeting. They will vote on it at their next meeting.

Amy Wywialowski can be reached at [email protected]