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New Responsibilities Set For Students
In Recently Proposed Bill Of Rights
Records
1. Students have the right to participate in determining the
type and content of college records kept on them and the
means by which these records are acquired. The rules thus
formulated shall be made public; no records shall be kept
which reflect the political or religious beliefs or activities of
students; relevant records, such as academic and medical,
shall be maintained in separate files.
2. No recorded or other confidential information on a student
shall be given to any person from outside the college without
the consent of that student, except under legal compulsion.
3. Access to student records shall be confined to authorized
college personnel who require such access in connection with
the performance of their duties. These records shall be con
sidered confidential.
Discipline
1. Students have the right to participate in formulating and
adjudicating college regulations governing student conduct.
These standards shall be in harmony with and essential to the
fulfillment of the college’s educational objectives. They shall
be explicit in defining both the infractions and the con
sequences of such infractions.
2. In developing responsible student conduct, disciplinary
proceedings play a substantially secondary role to example,
counseling, guidance, and admonition.
3. Students accused of infractions have the right to be in
formed of their rights, be immune from forms of harrassment,
be guaranteed “procedural fairness,” retain the rights and
privileges of any student while charges are pending, and have
the opportunity for appeal through a clearly defined system.
a. For minor infractions of college regulations (which shall
not be a part of a student’s permanent record), they may be
handled informally by the appropriate inforcer, with the
student having the right of appeal.
b. For more serious offenses, students have the right to be
given, at a reasonable time prior to a hearing before a
regularly constituted committee, the charges and evidence
against him, access to advisement of his choice, and an outline
of the hearing’s procedures. At the hearing, rights such as
examining and cross-examining of witnesses, presentation of
proper evidence, remaining silent unprejudicially and having
a public transcript and decision, shall be protected.
Student Affairs
1. Students have the right to organize and join associations
to promote their common educational, political, religious,
social, or cultural interests.
a These groups shall be governed only by college students,
but’they may be affiliated with outside organizations.
b. These groups may be required to register with the college,
but no membership lists other than elected officers, may be
required.
c. If required, these groups can choose their own ad
visement.
and. These groups shall have equal access to appropriate
college facilities and publicity outlets.
e. There shall be no discrimination: whether by a group in
composing its membership; or to a group or its members for
interests it mav have.
2. Students have the right to examine and discuss all
questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly
and privately by any orderly means that does not violate the
rights of others.
a. It shall be made clear to the public that any opinions
expressed are not necessarily those of the college or the entire
student body.
b. Any regulations concerning demonstrations shall be made
by a committee of administration, faculty, and students, and
should be made within the spirit of academic freedom and
Constitutional rights.
3. Students have the right to invite and hear any person of
their own choosing.
a. Institutional control of campus facilities shall not be used
as a device of censorship.
b. It shall be made clear to the public that an invitation to a
speaker does not necessarily imply approval of his views by
either the student group or the college.
4. Students have the right to participate by clearly defined
means in the formulation and application of institutional
policy which directly of indirectly affects academic and
student interests.
5. Student government shall have its general and specific
roles in representing the student body clearly defined.
a. Any enrolled student is eligible for office, subject to any
restrictions approved by the student body.
b. Student government shall be funded by the students and
or the college.
c. Student government cannot allocate its resources to bar
or intimidate any student organization.
and. The actions of student government shall be reviewed only
through orderly and prescribed means.
6. All student media radio, TV, newspapers, literary and
humor magazines, artistic presentations, academic
periodicals, yearbooks, etc. shall enjoy full Constitutional
rights and not be restricted or unduly pressured by college
personnel or student government.
a. If possible, the media shall be legally and financially
autonomous from the college. Otherwise, the college shall
provide sufficient editorial freedom and financial autonomy
for the student media to maintain its integrity of purpose as a
vehicle for free inquiry free expression in the college com
munity.
b The media may have advisers, but the media shall be free
from censorship of content and form (including editorials,
news coverage, etc.) except in the case of a specific finding of
potential libel as determined by impartial legal authority.
c. Opinions shall be stated as not necessarily representing
the views of either the college or the entire student body.
and. Air-wave media must conform to F.C.C. regulations, and
other media shall be “responsible” (avoiding libel, un
documented allegations, etc.). Any further clarification of the
roles and standards of student media shall be clearly ex
plicated by a publications board with at least a majority of
students.
THE WEST GEORGIAN, AUGUST 3, 173
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