Given the nature of the new greek life policies and the pressing timeframe presented to us by the administration, the Student Senate recognizes the need to act immediately and has done so through two actions: passing a resolution at last Wednesday’s meeting and calling for a student referendum to be voted upon May 3.
The resolution addresses how the Dean of Students Office has, through the implementation of these new policies, violated the Student Bill of Rights, ignored the relationship statement, and circumvented the roles that the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, Independent Council, and Student Senate play in representing students. The Student Bill of Rights was adopted by the Board of Trustees so that this type of situation would never occur in the first place. By ignoring the issue closest to the problem, the problem has not been properly addressed. Thus, in the best interests of the students that we represent, we acted appropriately.
Incidentally, this comes at a time of similar unrest in the Faculty Senate. I attended their meeting last Wednesday, in which they voted to hold a vote of no confidence in President Shirley Ann Jackson partially as a result of a new pension plan implemented by the administration—without any consent from the Faculty Senate. While we, the Student Senate, have nothing to do with either the pension plan nor the matters with President Jackson, they illustrate a common theme: Both the students and the faculty have not been properly consulted by the administration on matters that affect them.
The referendum, which will occur within the coming weeks, asks students to vote on the following statement:
“Whereas students had no means of input on the new disciplinary Greek Life policies—a violation of the Student Bill of Rights and the Greek Relationship Statement—we, the student body, disapprove of the policies and demand that the administration include student input on all points to shape more appropriate policies that adequately ensure the safety and welfare of students and hold off on enacting any current proposed policies until such time that all involved parties have the chance for review and input.”
We will be holding a referendum because it will allow us to present the administration with tangible numbers showing that students recognize that this is an issue of student rights that transcends greek life or the alcohol policy, and that we must revalidate the role of the students and their government in institutional policies. I urge you all to become aware of the issues and what is at stake, and to vote accordingly.
As a final note, I know that many of you feel strongly about this issue, and I want to make sure you are aware that the Student Senate is doing everything in its power to protect your rights as students. Speak to your friends, both students and faculty, about the violations of our rights. All parties involved in both present and future issues need to be heard. The issues at hand are much larger than greek life; they concern the rights of both students and faculty, and ultimately the future of RPI itself.
