Spring Break
EDITORIAL: Student rights campaign stalled
Union needs to be proactive
Editorial | 12/9/08
Posted online at 2:30 AM EST on 12/9/08
In an effort to increase awareness about the nature of student rights, the Student Union's Office of Student Rights and Advocacy planned to hand out 500 "Know Your Rights" magnets by Thanksgiving, which would remind students about guidelines stated in the Rights and Responsibilities document, specifically about how students should handle defense proceedings should they have to go through the University's judicial process. The move was part of the Union's larger initiative to have its document, the Student Bill of Rights, either incorporated with Rights and Responsibilities or recognized by the University as a separate document.
Union Director of Community Development Ryan McElhaney '10 said the magnets would be distributed this week after a delay because the initial magnets had an inconsistency with Rights and Responsibilities. The administration has repeatedly said it is ready to listen to the Union's proposal to combine the Student Bill of Rights with Rights and Responsibilities. However, there is little evidence that the Union has made appreciable progress in its endeavor.
McElhaney said money for the magnets was granted in part by the Union's Executive Board project support fund, which is financed by the Student Activities Fee. Any leftover money from this fund would return to clubs at the end of the year. This means that clubs are potentially receiving less money than they may need from the Finance Board in the meantime, and this is more difficult to justify when the magnet distribution has been delayed.
Last month, the Union planned to meet with the administration to advocate incorporating the two documents. This page argued that this prospect would be a step in the right direction for both the Union and the University. But McElhaney said that he had "an inability to meet" with administrators in order to clear up the inconsistencies and explained that this has delayed the progression of the discussions.
Much like the distribution of the magnets, the agreement to combine the two documents will be reached later than expected. In an e-mail to the Justice last Wednesday, Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer wrote that he has not been consulted "recently" about the contents of the proposed Student Bill of Rights document. McElhaney said last week that the Union is reevaluating how to present its position to the administration and surmised that a resolution may not occur until well into next semester.
Especially in times of economic crunches, the Union should ensure that it uses money in a productive manner. After spending significant resources on the magnets and the Student Bill of Rights, the Union should see it through to its end if it wants the project to maintain the level of importance it deserves.
Union Director of Community Development Ryan McElhaney '10 said the magnets would be distributed this week after a delay because the initial magnets had an inconsistency with Rights and Responsibilities. The administration has repeatedly said it is ready to listen to the Union's proposal to combine the Student Bill of Rights with Rights and Responsibilities. However, there is little evidence that the Union has made appreciable progress in its endeavor.
McElhaney said money for the magnets was granted in part by the Union's Executive Board project support fund, which is financed by the Student Activities Fee. Any leftover money from this fund would return to clubs at the end of the year. This means that clubs are potentially receiving less money than they may need from the Finance Board in the meantime, and this is more difficult to justify when the magnet distribution has been delayed.
Last month, the Union planned to meet with the administration to advocate incorporating the two documents. This page argued that this prospect would be a step in the right direction for both the Union and the University. But McElhaney said that he had "an inability to meet" with administrators in order to clear up the inconsistencies and explained that this has delayed the progression of the discussions.
Much like the distribution of the magnets, the agreement to combine the two documents will be reached later than expected. In an e-mail to the Justice last Wednesday, Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer wrote that he has not been consulted "recently" about the contents of the proposed Student Bill of Rights document. McElhaney said last week that the Union is reevaluating how to present its position to the administration and surmised that a resolution may not occur until well into next semester.
Especially in times of economic crunches, the Union should ensure that it uses money in a productive manner. After spending significant resources on the magnets and the Student Bill of Rights, the Union should see it through to its end if it wants the project to maintain the level of importance it deserves.
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