picketing code

your graduate student senate met last tuesday. it was well attended, in the sense that we barely made quorum. the senate passed several resolutions, including a resolution to reject chancellor lombardi's restructuring plan, and the following resolution, to not recognize the picketing code.

passed: March 22, 2005

Whereas the administration's Picketing Code is unreasonably restrictive, for example setting strict standards for noisiness of demonstrations, and

Whereas the Picketing Code empowers the administration to impose unreasonable punishments for minor infractions, for example permitting the university to expel a student for being noisy, and

Whereas the attitudes and conduct of some administrators towards students have made it clear that they cannot be entrusted with disciplining students, and

Whereas the Wellman Document delegates primary responsibility for student issues, explicitly including student discipline, to student governments, within the overarching power of the Board of Trustees, and

Whereas the Picketing Code exclusively concerns student conduct and discipline, and

Whereas the Amherst campus administration has neither consulted student governments in its formulation of the Picketing Code, and

Whereas the Board of Trustees has not enacted the Picketing Code,

Therefore be it resolved that the Graduate Student Senate does not recognize the Picketing Code to be university policy, and views any attempt to impose punishment based on the picketing code as entirely arbitrary;

Be it further resolved that the Graduate Student Senate work with the Student Government Association to draft a new Picketing Code, which balances the free speech rights of students, and the right to be free from unusually severe punishment, with the need of the university to conduct its business. The administration should be invited to provide input into the process, as appropriate.