Editorial: Join Senate subcommittee to examine alcohol policies

By Caitlin Thornbrugh

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

In a student rights committee meeting held on Sept. 2 a vote of 21 to 13 officially formed a subcommittee that will be charged with reviewing the student code of rights and responsibilities for the second time in the past two semesters.

All students at the University who value not only their right to privacy, but their rights as citizens and their personal liberties guaranteed in the Constitution, should show up, listen and vote as a member of the new subcommittee.

This new subcommittee is officially a part of the student rights committee, which is a part of Student Senate. However, any student can be a voting member of this group.

The reason it’s important for as many students as possible to be in this group is because it is examining the student code of rights and responsibilities, which ensures that students do not give up any rights by becoming members of the University community.

The code is under examination because of alcohol-related incidents that occurred near campus last year.

Some administrators feel that amending the code to allow housing officials to enter residence hall rooms without permission is something that needs to happen in order to help prevent underage drinking.

Marlesa Roney, vice provost for student success, was a guest speaker at the student rights committee meeting and she told the student senators that she “did not have an agenda to ramrod through students rights or student senate.”

However, she said further review was necessary.

“I want Student Senate to review the stumbling blocks that have put in our way,” she said.

The Fourth Amendment protects people from unlawful search and seizure and entrance of the home without a warrant. Student housing is protected under this amendment and it is not a mere stumbling block.

Students who live in housing should be concerned, but so should the rest of the student body.

If this is up for examination and if Student Senate votes to take away this student right, then what other rights will be taken away?

When asked how many deaths this new policy would have prevented, Roney said, “I can’t stand here and tell you that a change in the code would save lives, but I’m hoping it would.”

This is because none of the deaths actually occurred in the residence halls. This policy is an unnecessary attack on student housing.

According to Tom Cox, chair of the student rights committee, the first subcommittee meeting date will be determined a week from today by former student senator Emily Williams, who has been named chairwoman of the subcommittee.

This is a chance for students to actually have the ability to control what is happening to them.

Any student who goes to these meetings can vote, and despite common feelings about elections, this vote actually will count.

When the date of the first meeting is announced The Kansan will provide an update so students will know when and where they can participate.

A generous number of student voices need to speak out against a change in the student code in order to preserve student rights.

— — Caitlin Thornbrugh for The Kansan Editorial Board

Comments

sjschlag (anonymous) says...

as a former student and former resident of Hashinger Hall, I would encourage everyone who lives in the residence halls to attend these meetings. Taking away your 4th amendment rights on campus will not prevent any further deaths related to alcohol.

Also, Where is the ACLU in all of this?

September 9, 2009 at 6:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU2008 (anonymous) says...

Actually, I could care less...

First of all, the dorms are similar to an apartment. The University is our landlord, and has every right to tell us to get out if they want to. If something is amiss, they do have the right? to go and check to see if everything is all right. And as I said, I could care less... I've got nothing to hide. I don't drink or smoke pot, so they can't kick me out for doing anything like that. I feel that is the reason why a majority of the people would reject the approval.

September 9, 2009 at 7:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

DenverDad (anonymous) says...

Parents need to know....period! WHY? If it's a health and safety issue you want to protect someone who may be in trouble?

I applaud KU for their changes. According to FERPA LAW the exception to prior written consent #9 is:"Parents of dependent students as defined in the Internal Revenue Code."

PARENTS ARE NOT THE ENEMY, PEOPLE!!! THEY LOVE THE STUDENT MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD!

September 21, 2009 at 9:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

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