Controversial Fine Arts Fee resolution also passes

The Undergraduate Student Government approved three resolutions concerning the Student Conduct Code at its meeting Wednesday. The resolutions concern sanctions that could result in the loss of financial aid and jurisdiction issues within the Student Conduct Code.

The current language in the Student Conduct Code could result in the loss of financial aid, and the resolution passed argued against that language.

College of Liberal Arts Senator Eric Wiatr introduced each of the resolutions and was happy to see them passed.

“Obviously some people had valid concerns, but we can’t lose focus of the fact that innocent people will be affected,” Wiatr said. “These are important issues for students, and I hope the University will take into consideration the concerns of students.”

The resolution concerning the enforcement of the Student Conduct Code was the only one met with opposition. Wiatr argued that the language in the Student Conduct Code was vague and could be interpreted by the Administration any way it saw fit. Furthermore, he added it was not right that the University could sanction a student for a crime that was dismissed in a legal court of law.

College of Education Senator Jody Dalzell-Robert disagreed with Wiatr. She said this resolution should not pass because it jeopardized the safety of the students. She pointed to the fact that many sexual assault cases are thrown out of court because of lack of evidence or because it takes such a long time for DNA test results to come back from labs after being tested.

“It takes at least two years for a DNA sample to be returned when a case goes to trial. That means a potential rapist could walk around on campus for two years and graduate before the case ever goes to court,” Dalzell-Robert said. “I am just concerned about the safety of the students here on campus.”

The other two resolutions dealing with the Student Conduct Code did not stir up as much debate. One of the resolutions dealt with the loss of financial aid if a student violated the Student Conduct Code, and the other dealt specifically with the language of the Student Conduct Code.

Other items were discussed as well, including a resolution that was tabled from last meeting dealing with giving USG more control over the Fine Arts Fee that will be allocated by the Fine Arts Committee. The resolution calls for USG to appoint some of its own members to the Fine Arts Committee.

Senator Mary Wallace proposed the resolution because the Fine Arts Fee is part of the Student Activity Fee for the first time this year. USG, as well as the Graduate and Professional Student Council, has historically controlled this money.

“We all pay the Student Activity Fee as students of this University, so we should be able to select some members to the Fine Arts Committee because otherwise we are being left in the dark,” Wallace said. “We just want to be part of the process so we know what is going on.”

College of Applied Science Senator Peter Normand disagreed with Wallace on this matter. He said USG has done a poor job of allocating funds in the past and has insufficient knowledge of the issues affecting Fine Arts.

USG welcomed some new Senators at the beginning of the meeting. Crystal Gardner representing the College of Science, Alexis Allen representing Thompson Point, Maurice Mosley representing the College of Engineering and Latisha Joseph representing the College of Education were approved to start serving their terms on the USG Senate.

Reporter Jack Thrasher can be reached at [email protected]