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A bill requiring Syracuse University to be transparent about its artificial intelligence, following students’ concerns about AI systems displaying discriminatory behaviors, was presented at the Student Government Association’s Monday meeting.

If passed, the bill requires SU to publish a complete list of AI systems used by the university, complete independent bias checks, establish a student data rights policy and create a Student Technology Advisory ad hoc committee within SGA.

During the New Business portion of the meeting, VPA representative Indre Espinoza and sophomore Chloe Brown Monchamp presented the bill titled “Demanding Algorithmic Transparency and Student Oversight of AI Surveillance Systems.”

Their presentation proposed that the ad hoc committee hire a third-party auditor to test the AI systems currently in place at SU to check for inaccuracy or displays of discrimination. Espinoza and Monchamp explained that AI can be unfair to students of color, neurodivergent students and non-native English speakers.

The systems cite platforms including Turnitin’s AI content checker and Orange Success’s domain, Starfish Solutions.

They argued that students are sometimes unfairly punished for false errors detected by AI systems, showing an example from SU’s College of Law in 2020 when a student petitioned against the exam proctoring software, Proctortrack. The software uses facial recognition found to discriminate against students of color, transgender students and students with disabilities.

At the time, Craig Boise, SU College of Law dean, defended the software.

“What we’re asking is, first for (SU) to completely disclose what software they’re using, and what they’re actually planning on using (if for),” Espinoza said. “Without that information, we can’t do anything.”

As the bill was not officially introduced to the voting floor, SGA President German Nolivos suggested the pair revise it and focus on the ad hoc committee formation. Both Espinoza and Monchamp plan to create a more comprehensive bill to present later this semester.

Until then, they plan to design an infographic providing students with information on the issues of AI and collect signatures to petition the university to take action.

“Having those protective measures is really crucial,” Espinoza said. “If (SU) is able to show that they’ve taken the proper precautions to be able to facilitate an AI major and minor that still protects their students, that’s something that would be huge.”

SGA also welcomed Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs Jamie Winders to speak to the full assembly regarding SU’s academic strategic plan. She described the plan as the university’s “to-do list” over the next few years.

The plan is called Leading With Distinction, and centers around five main areas: emerging technologies, human thriving, global diversity, experiential inquiry and engaged citizenship. Winders’ presentation centered on emerging technologies and experiential inquiry.

She asked the assembly to provide feedback on the new integrative AI major the office is curating. The major would be a 30-credit interdisciplinary undergraduate major focused on the technical, policy and societal impacts of AI.

“We think it would really help position Syracuse kind of at the forefront of (AI),” Winders said. “And really would address what a lot of people identify as a gap between the folks who are designing AI systems and the people tasked with trying to regulate these systems.”

Winders said the office hopes to have the major become available to students in the fall of 2026.

Next week’s SGA will center on advanced allocations, helping to decide funding for next semester.

Published on November 4, 2025 at 1:59 am
Contact Vivian: vpcollins06@gmail.com