[In these minutes: Student Conduct Code, Student Senate Budget, Student
Senate Agenda]
STUDENT SENATE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (SSCC)
MINUTES
MARCH 6, 2003
[These minutes reflect discussion
and debate at a committee of the University of Minnesota Senate or Twin Cities
Campus Assembly; none of the comments, conclusions, or actions reported in these
minutes represent the views of, nor are they binding on, the Senate or Assembly,
the Administration, or the Board of Regents.]
PRESENT: Judy
Berning, (chair), John Amble, Kari Lindeman, Ryan Osero, Eric Steinhoff, Tom
Walsh.
REGRETS: Nick Cecconi, Scott Ferguson, Yev Garif, Kelsi
Holland, Dan O’Connor, Jasen Peterson, Nathan Saete.
GUESTS:
Kathy Brown, Tina Falkner, Kate Stuckert.
1. STUDENT CONDUCT
CODE
Judy Berning said that at the February Student Senate meeting
some language changes were proposed regarding further defining on-campus and
officially representing. These changes were forwarded to the Drafting Committee
for review, at which point it was decided that the clarifying language would
create more loopholes and actually work against the students. She then welcomed
Kathy Brown, Chief of Staff, to discuss jurisdiction and the Student Conduct
Code.
Kathy Brown said that she has been involved with the Student
Conduct Code for the last 10 years as she advises units of the Code while in the
Office for the General Counsel and worked with the Code while in Multicultural
and Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. During this time she has become a
student advocate for the process.
The Code was put in place 30 years ago
and its jurisdiction has not changed since then. During this review, while many
other elements were changed, jurisdiction was discussed but a decision was made
to leave it as is. The jurisdiction in the Code is meant to cover students in
three areas: students while engaged in class and earning credits, the physical
campus of the University, and students at activities when representing the
University in an official capacity. The Code is not meant to interfere with the
personal life of students. The boundaries in the Code are straight-forward and
will not be extended beyond the current bounds.
By not changing the
language regarding jurisdiction, the University has 30 years of interpretations
and precedents to guide its use. If new language was adopted, these precedents
would no longer exist and students would therefore be open to new
interpretations. It is also impossible to think of every possible violation and
make language specific enough to cover all these instances.
Kathy Brown
noted that there are also several layers of checks and balances that are built
into the system. First, the Conduct Code Coordinator reviews reports that have
been received and decides it there is enough evidence to charge the student
under the Code. If so, a formal charge is made. The student then has the
opportunity to an informal resolution with someone from Student Judicial
Affairs. If informal resolution does not work, then the student can request a
formal hearing with the Student Behavior Committee. If the student does not
like the outcome from this hearing, they can appeal the decision to the
President’s Student Behavior Review Panel. Throughout this process,
students can state why he or she should not be found guilty, but also why the
Code does not apply in their case.
The Review Committee spent much time
on this issue and has mixed feelings about whether jurisdiction should be
expanded or defined differently. In the end, they decide to leave jurisdiction
as it has been for the last 30 years.
Q: How do students know about the
different appeal levels?
A: The Code is always available on the web and
as a paper copy. Once the new version is approved it will be published in the
Minnesota Daily. During the hearing process, students are always provided with
the procedures and inform on the process.
Q: A past event at Morris,that
took place off campus, was charged under the Code. How is this
possible?
A: It was determined that it was a team activity since coaches
and players were both present, and therefore fell under the jurisdiction of the
Code.
Q: How often is the Code used to charge students?
A: Each
charge under the Code is used at least once each year since there are 10-15
students charged each week. Charges are applied cautiously though, since
studentship should not define all student behavior, especially when off
campus.
Q: How is ‘campus’ defined?
A: It is defined
as University-owned property. This property is a matter of legal record.
Before any charges are made, the Conduct Code Coordinator looks carefully at
where an incident occurred to make sure that it is on University-owned property
and not across the street.
Q: If jurisdiction is defined so consistently,
then why can it not be included in the Code?
A: Jurisdiction has too many
variables to be able to capture in a small paragraph. The policy is more useful
with less detail.
Q: Without clear language, cannot the language be
defined in indefinite ways?
A: Just as in a criminal case, past cases are
used to establish precedent and limit new interpretations. From the many other
Codes that were studied, the University’s has the clearest definition that
most benefits the students.
Q: Will interpretations change?
A:
Yes, but only if the language changes first, which is why it was finally decided
to not change the definition of jurisdiction.
With no further comments, a
motion was made and seconded to approve the Code. The vote was taken and the
motion was approved with 5 in favor and none opposed. Judy Berning said that
committee members who could not be present would be allowed to vote by email.
[Following this electronic vote, the final vote was 6 in favor, none opposed,
and one abstention.]
2. WRITTEN
REPORTS
CROOKSTON
Nate Saete reported:
-This week CSA
held appointments for next year's board. The results are:
Students
Activities Chair: Jonathan Roefers
SLC: Jean Korkowski
Treasurer:
Deann Roers
Regents Rep: Cameron Brauer
*SSCC still has yet to be
appointed.
*Elections are being held this Friday for all other
positions.
-Friday March 7th will be the last day our Bede Student Center
will be open. The construction will begin this spring, and we're hoping for a
Fall 2004 opening of the new student center.
MSA
Kari Lindeman
reported:
Events:
- Impress the President on February 26th went really well; lots of students
showed President Bruininks the quality of education this institution offers.
- Lobby Day is happening March 6 at the capitol; hopefully we will have a good
group this year.
- Campus Safety walks are coming
News:
- Student Services Fees Committee cut MSA about $100,000, so many students are
asking for a smaller cut.
Issues:
- Still looking at the on campus stadium.
- Website is looking a lot nicer and is much more usable, especially the
calendar.
- Late night busing at the U.
Resolutions:
- Against the Higher Aid Higher Tuition model
- $4000 to Spring Jam
- new campus election rules
- asking for a more accessible GPT
FINANCE AND
PLANNING
Dan O’Connor, student representative to Finance and
Planning Committee, submitted this report:
The SCFP met yesterday and two
Tuesdays ago. The major topics of discussion were the State budget cuts and how
the University is dealing with them. The Committee continues to think about
what the University's priorities are and will be in the future and how those
priorities will affect the manner in which budget cuts are distributed
throughout the U. In addition to the budget issues, the Library Finance
Committee gave a report about the status of the current Twin Cities libraries
and the plan for future expenditures. The main issue raised was that the
libraries are under-funded and thus are unable to purchase new periodicals and
journals. This has lowered the U's position among research libraries in the Big
Ten and around the country. The committee acknowledged the situation of the
libraries and will continue to support responsible funding for the libraries as
a part of the vital mission of the University.
MORRIS
Eric
Steinhoff reported that the election rules have been approved, so now MCSA is in
charge of the election process.
There were no reports from Duluth, GAPSA,
or the Student Senate Chair.
3. ORAL
REPORTS
CHAIR
Judy Berning said that most of her time has
been spent on the Code. She has also met with Eric Steinhoff and Ryan Osero to
discuss changes to the Student Senate. She will be meeting next week with Chris
Frazier and Josh Colburn about the same topic. The SSCC Task Force is finishing
its work and will have a report for the March Student Senate meeting. She has
also been working on scheduling a discussion panel on ‘The Role of the
Student Experience in the Educational Mission of the University.’ This
will take place on April 17, so she will consider canceling the April 3 SSCC
meeting.
STUDENT SENATE VICE CHAIR
Eric Steinhoff said he has
been working on the budget, which will be presented later in the
meeting.
4. 2003-04 STUDENT SENATE BUDGET
Eric Steinhoff
said the he, Judy Berning, and Ryan Osero have discussed different ideas for
Student Senate spending for next year. All these ideas have been added to the
first draft of the 2003-04 Student Senate budget. Committee members now need to
decide how funds should be spent and what priorities should be, possibly without
more funding in light of the University’s budget
situation.
Committee members then made the following comments:
- Leadership development and workshops should be offered to all students, not
just student leaders
- Workshops are more helpful than leadership initiatives
- Some initiatives could be by ITV to include the coordinate campuses
- Student Affairs Chair should receive a stipend; hopefully this funding could
come from the full Senate budget, but if not the other three stipends could be
reduced to fund this position
- Should this stipend only be offered if the Student Affairs Committee chair
is a student?
- Spring transition meeting is important
- Student Senate officers should have a fund for travel ($800)
- Delete funding for leadership conferences and Student Senate advisor
- Generic Student Senate business cards should be produced so that everyone
can use them
- Stipends should be awarded as a value of the time in a position; students
should take leadership roles for experience and not for the
money
Committee members spent considerable time discussing
travel reimbursement for Student Senate meetings:
- Morris and Duluth should not be reimbursed for hotel costs since these
students can go back the same day
- Student Senate leaders should be reimbursed for all travel to Student Senate
meetings
- Senators should only be reimbursed for using a University vehicle and each
campus should have a vehicle limit for Senate use
- If travel is not reimbursed, coordinate campus access is an
issue
5. DISCUSSION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STUDENT
SENATE
Judy Berning said that she, Eric Steinhoff, and Ryan Osero had
started to talk about the role of the senators and their campuses, the overlap
in student governance, and what can be done to facilitate change.
Eric
Steinhoff said that many views for change have been represented in the Student
Senate budget priorities. This funding should help students know what is
happening earlier in the year so that they can be an effective committee member
or senator.
Ryan Osero said that a discussion topic was also streamlining
the two chair positions. SSCC also needs to talk about what the Student Senate
is doing and if the structure is appropriate for this role. If not, then
changes need to be made.
Judy Berning stated that this item will likely
carry into next year, and might include a survey of the senators. If members
have any ideas during this discussion, please bring them forward.
6.
MARCH 27 STUDENT SENATE AGENDA APPROVAL
Ryan Osero asked that the
agenda be approved with one change, that Item 7 be changed to 15 minutes. The
agenda as amended was then approved.
7. OTHER BUSINESS
Judy
Berning said that she would write a comment for the Code when presented to the
Student Senate. The comment would include information on the past precedents
and the three areas for jurisdiction.
With no further business, Judy
Berning thanked all members for attending and adjourned the
meeting.
Becky Hippert
University Senate