What is Chapter 17, become aware
University system is taking away students' rights
Kristoffer Martin
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
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In the new revisions of the chapter 17 statute set down by the Board of Regents for the UW System these political and social idealisms hit home. Where the free world is banning "hate speech" and "anti-religious speech" the University of Wisconsin is doing just that, and then some.
The current revisions, which have been passed by UW-Eau Claire's Student Senate (with some ear marked changes before approval) would allow off-campus activities of students to be used against them if these activities are considered to be misconduct. Further, the rights of the students are being stripped down and all legal conduits of protection are being reduced in the light of making it more "understandable" and "more academically aimed."
What does this mean for us, the students?
It means that nonacademic misconduct that occurs off campus and away from campus related events could be used against students. And if the current revisions go through without the suggested resolutions that the Student Senate have suggested, legal consultation and even the structure of the academic review board and policies will literally stop functioning as they do right now.
This means that students can be targeted indiscriminately for transgressions that may or may not be related to the campus, and gives greater leeway to the administration to dismiss, bar, suspend, and expel students.
Such indiscrimination can lead to suspension, and other unlawful disciplinary acts like behavior contracts which the student is then not allowed to speak to a lawyer about before signing.
According to a March 13 United Council press release on how students voice their concerns over code revision, "Students will no longer be permitted to choose to have their case heard and punishment determined by a hearing committee made up at least partially of our peers," stated (Kyle) Duerstein.
This violates the revision committee's goal of making the process more educational, but also violates students' personal rights.
The press release stated "turning Chapter 17 into a tool with which to punish students arbitrarily, without due process, will not make university neighborhoods more peaceful," stated (Michael) Moscicke, in response to the UW-Milwaukee neighborhood representatives.
Though the current Chapter 17 does not disallow first amendment rights - the right to protest, the right to picket safely and without reasonable interference to classes - the new revisions deliberately makes such events more difficult to perform, and bars loud persuasive language on campus. Further what is deemed "hate speech" is purposely written vaguely, making the code imprecise and open to unreasonable interpretation. Further, the revisions still allows the procession of offensive speakers to be allowed to come to campus - Pastor Dave comes to mind - and speak on behalf of student organizations.
This is an issue all students need to be aware of. Our rights as students and our rights as citizens of the United States are being stripped away by the university as a means to "create a safe environment."
Remember, the University environment is meant to be one for learning and diverse thought. Such revisions as the ones for Chapter 17 detract from that openness expected, and instead create its own threatening atmosphere.
How can we, as students, be expected to confide our own thoughts and feelings openly and fairly if we are afraid of being reprimanded for not upholding the same social ideals that the school expects of us?
Martin is a senior creative writing major and guest columnist for The Spectator
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