A group of about 20 students, some holding signs with slogans such as "We want fair food and justice for all," urged senators at Tuesday's meeting to show their support for a resolution advocating a pay increase and better treatment for Immokalee workers.
A resolution is a piece of legislation that states the Senate's opinion but takes no action.
The resolution passed 57-19.
Immokalee workers pick the tomatoes used by Aramark, UF's food provider.
The resolution was supported by members from all three parties.
It encouraged Aramark to meet with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to negotiate a wage increase and a contract that would guarantee human rights for the workers by setting oversight agencies in the farm fields to ensure abuses aren't occurring.
A similar resolution advocating for the workers was presented last month, but it didn't pass. Unlike the previous resolution, the new resolution will be sent to the Office of the Vice President of Business Affairs, Gator Dining Services and student governments of other state universities.
Richard Blake, a member of the Student Farmworker's Alliance at UF, said the wage increase of one penny per pound of tomatoes purchased would not affect Aramark food prices. He said workers are taken advantage of by their employers.
"No matter their skin color, no matter what wages they get, they are human beings," Blake said.
Unite Party Sen. Andy Mason, who represents District D, discouraged senators from voting in favor of the resolution. He said it was based on opinions from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.
Mason cited statistics from the Agriculture Institute of Florida and said that, despite the claims of the resolution's authors, the wages of the workers have increased during the past 30 years.
"However, when you only receive facts from one side of the argument, you only receive a biased viewpoint," Mason said.
Senators also dished out $510 to Students for Justice in Palestine. Husam Wahdan, the organization's president, said the club's goal is to educate students about the Palestinian conflict and promote peaceful solutions.
Senators questioned members of the organization about their opinions of Israel.
But Senate President Pro Tempore Naadira Renfroe told senators to put their personal views on the conflict aside and consider their constituency.
Senators also gave about $245 for Gator Skim Club and $62 for the Strategic Gaming Club, a club that educates students about board game strategies that apply to real-world situations.
