Opinion
Regents’ policy a terrible move
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Also by Alex Gallagher:
- ASM elections; a hope for change (October 14, 2008)
- Regents' policy a terrible move (October 7, 2008)
- Local elections offer genuine chances to protect university (September 30, 2008)
- New ASM constitution a postive step for campus (September 24, 2008)
- 'Special' ASM politicians terrified of responsibility (September 16, 2008)
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The revision of University of Wisconsin System Administrative Code Chapter 17 went virtually unnoticed on the campus. Perhaps students were too busy preparing their pre-game parties for the big
The previous version of Chapter 17 limited university action to egregious acts such as physical abuse, stalking and stealing university property. The new, revised version extends to conduct which “adversely affects substantial university interests.” The new language does not preclude the university from being substantially interested in a whole variety of student activities. The university may suddenly find itself substantially interested in your propensity to urinate in public. While this may sound a bit extreme, public urination is one of the varying offenses this new policy was created to address.
The revision began when members of neighborhood associations in
However, the most frustrating part of these revisions is not the content, but rather the process. It was not due to a lack of student input that these measures were passed. Students from across the state, including your representatives with the Associated Students of Madison, vocally contested the content of these revisions.
Instead, these policies are the product of a stubborn administration that does not seek meaningful student input. Even though the committee making these changes was clearly “formulating a policy concerning student life, services, and interest,” the committee only had two student members. The UW System administration ignored Regent Policy documents, which guarantee these committees have a majority of students. Then the committee circulated it to student governments to get feedback and proceeded to ignore any feedback which undermined the goal of the committee.
As disturbing as all of this is, it is not the first time it has happened. The set of facts for this policy look eerily similar to the revision of segregated fee policy last winter. And thus I present to you the “UW System Flow Chart for Addressing Student Life Issues.”
1. A campus has a problem with some controversial aspect with student life.
2. Forms a committee in which students do not form a majority, thereby ignoring Regent Policy Document 30-3.
3. Have the administrative majorities on these committees force through a policy with ambiguous language granting the institution unchecked authority over the area of controversy. UW System General Counsel Patricia Brady recommends the word “substantial.” The lack of any threshold grants the university administration carte blanche to impose whatever restrictions they desire.
4. Ask for student input on the draft.
5. Ignore any student input which substantively changes the draft.
6. Pass the draft despite widespread student discontent.
It appears the formula was successful in the segregated fee policy revision process, so the UW System decided to implement the same process with Chapter 17 and 18. Through this clear model, the UW System has been able to avoid any meaningful student input in the process. While students may have ceremonial involvement, the final policies demonstrate the token role students have to play in the process. On the controversial subject matter, not a single concession was made to the students.
Despite the Board of Regents’ decision, the policy will not be finalized until the state Legislature ratifies the changes. Now the onus is on students to either stall these Stalinesque rules or face academic sanctions whenever the university may be substantially interested. On a lighter note, those in the Legislature are too preoccupied with getting themselves elected, and we may not see this code passed before Halloween.
Alex Gallagher (agallagher@badgerherald.com) is a senior majoring in history.
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I believe these revisions need to be approved by the state legislature. If so, I dearly hope that they are rejected. How the university can get away with having legal counsel on their “trial” board while not allowing students to have legal representation is beyond me. While I understand that the university must be able to discipline students for acts committed off campus against other UW students I think the vague policy gives the UW WAY too much power. This is going to be interesting….
Wait until students start being expelled, that may open their eyes. People don’t protest until they see a direct affect on their lives.
It’s the same reason more students are not protesting the war, or our current governments over reaching and illegal domestic surveillance. Start the draft up and you’ll see plenty of student protesters.
We have become a self-absorbed nation of me first.
you quoted 36.09(5) well with “formulating a policy concerning student life, services, and interest,” but failed to mention the a certain part: “REVIEW and RECOMMEND”, which is quite different from a model of setting policies and procedures that you seem to believe students have…
Where can we go to fight this? Are there any student orgs taking it up?
As a faculty member, allow me to welcome students to the wonderful world of System politics. Similar strategies of disenfranchisement have been used to make sure faculty governance in the System remains a bad joke.
If you whiny babies would learn how to behave in public, maybe the rest of the system would learn to treat you as adults. Take accountability for your actions and learn how to act like responsible citizens, instead of wasting our time and energy on silly crap like this. Man up and take your medicine!!!!
i can’t believe you seem to imply that this is more important than badger football. get a life…or a beer.
36.09(5) states: The students of each institution or campus subject to the responsibilities and powers of the board, the president, the chancellor and the faculty shall be active participants in the immediate governance of and policy development for such institutions. As such, students shall have primary responsibility for the formulation and review of policies concerning student life, services and interests. Students in consultation with the chancellor and subject to the final confirmation of the board shall have the responsibility for the disposition of those student fees which constitute substantial support for campus student activities. The students of each institution or campus shall have the right to organize themselves in a manner they determine and to select their representatives to participate in institutional governance.
Where does it say review and recommend. It says students shall have primary responsibility for the formulation and review. Never does it say recommend.
Even RPD 30-3 says”
Because § 36.09(5) grants to students primary responsibility (subject to the responsibilities and powers of the board, the president, the chancellor, and the faculty) “for the formulation and review of policies concerning student life, services, and interests,” each institution, through consultation with its student government association, should identify the student agencies (organizations, committees, councils, etc.), or agencies with a preponderance of student membership to whom responsibility can be delegated for initiation and review of policies of a particular category. … It is presumed that the membership of committees dealing primarily with formulation and review of policies concerning student life, services, and interests as defined by the institution will have a majority of students.
I still don’t see the words “Review and Recommend” anywhere.
Yeah, fuck non-student residents of Madison, this is our town and we will urinate as we please.
8:59 is exactly right, We have become a self-absorbed nation of me first. Namely the fact that any effort of the school to remain a top public school by maintaining a cursory standard of conduct by the students who they admitted is met with empty libertarian protests about the rights of students to have zero responsibility. Go ahead and keep complaining about the MPD for unfairly targeting student drinking while people are being assaulted.
If you dont like the University of Wisconsin Systems rules, chose to spend your money elsewhere. Isn’t that the American way?