Student Senate unanimously passed a resolution in favor of a preferred name policy on campus during its last meeting of the semester, Monday.

 
“Having the ability to be recognized by a chosen name is something that is very validating for somebody’s identity,” Senator Casey Coughlin said.

 
A preferred name program would allow students to use a favored name on some campus records. The program is aimed at Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer students, international students or other students who choose to use a surname.

 
The resolution doesn’t mean a name change program is in place or in the works, just that Senate would support a program if it got off the ground.

 
UW-Stout launched a preferred name program this fall and offered help to Eau Claire if it’s interested in drafting the program, according to the resolution.

 
Stout students can opt to use their preferred name on Desire 2 Learn accounts, class lists, campus directories and other unofficial records.

 
But students must use legal names on official transcripts, financial aid, student IDs and other records dispersed off campus.

 
Jane Henderson, Stout Learning and Technology Services director, said Stout’s LGBTQ Program Coordinator Julie Miller asked the university to push the preferred name change program.

 
“It was just a matter of getting the right people at the table,” Henderson said. “Once that happened, it was fairly easy to implement the program.”
Henderson said Stout’s tech department and registrar’s office can help Eau Claire make the project happen.

 
Carlos Gorina, the president of Eau Claire’s International Student Association, said international or foreign exchange students sometimes prefer that professors or school officials use a surname for clarity.

 
Gorina was born in Spain, but moved to Eau Claire when he was in high school. He has two last names — Gorina and Herraiz — but no middle name. He said he groans when professors call him Mr. Herraiz.

 
A preferred name program could ease some in-class confusion, he said.

 
Jodi Simek, international student advisor, said although a preferred name program might make foreign students more comfortable on campus, different names could confuse the system and cause headaches.

 
“We encourage international students to use their name as it appears on their Visa on all university records for consistency,” Simek said.

 
Gorina had to provide his passport, proof he was a student and a slew of other paperwork to get his driver’s license. A paperwork mistake on school documents or other papers would be a huge headache, he said.

 
“America is the biggest country and the most powerful,” Gorina said. “Something stupid like that would be so hard, and they would be against helping you, because they don’t know if you’re going with good intentions or bad intentions.”

 
Student Body President Bryan Larson sponsored the resolution along with Coughlin.

 
Larson said a name choice program would help contribute to a culture of acceptance on campus.

 
“College is a place where everyone needs to feel welcome,” Larson said. “That applies to everyone. I think that this resolution is a great way to move
forward in that direction.”