Illinois State Senate Committee on University Student Life met Nov., 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Present: Chair Rummana Alam, Caitlin Clarke, Tim Flanagin, Charles Fogelman, Kush Gupta Ex officio: Scarlette Briones, Stephen Bryan, Enoma Egiebor, Giocanda Guerra Perez, Dana Johnson
Absent: Sarah Hatlestad, Nattapon Jaroenchai, Erin Motley, Brendan Recka, Danita Brown Young, (ex officio), Kathy Martensen (ex officio), Megan Tucker Zwilling (ex officio)
Guest: Madeleine Bates (Undergraduate Student), Collin Richmond (University Counsel); Kristin McMurray (Office of Campus Operations and Administration)
I. CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the Senate Committee on University Student Life (SL) was called to order at 9:30 am with Chair Alam presiding.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the April 9, 2021, August 27, 2021, and September 17, 2021, October 15, 2021 meetings were approved by roll call vote.
Yes: Alam, Clarke, Flanagin, Fogelman, Gupta
No: None
Abstain: None
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
Madeleine Bates spoke against the Expressive Activity on Campus Policy and asked the committee not to endorse the policy.
IV. CHAIR’S REMARKS
Chair Alam discussed a proposal to offer a Fall break in October for the students. The committee will continue to discuss this matter. Chair Alam thanked McMurray and Richmond for meeting with the committee.
V. VICE CHANCELLOR FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS UPDATES
No update was provided.
VI. DEAN OF STUDENT UPDATES
No update was provided.
VII. ISG PRESIDENT UPDATES
No update was provided.
VIII. VICE CHANCELLOR FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION UPDATES (Guerra Perez)
No update was provided.
IX. PROVOST OFFICE UPDATES (Martensen)
No updated provided.
X. COUNCIL OF UNDERGRADUATE DEANS UPDATES
No update was provided.
XI. GRADUATE COLLEGE UPDATES
No update was provided.
XII. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND SCHOLAR SERVICES (ISSS) UPDATES
No update was provided.
XIII. OLD BUSINESS
SL.22.02, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.20.B – University Student Life Membership
A motion was made to approve SL.22.02. The motion was seconded, and no discussion followed. SL approved SL.22.02 by roll call vote.
Yes: Alam, Clarke, Flanagin, Fogelman, Gupta
No: None
Abstain: None
XIV. NEW BUSINESS
SL.22.01, Proposed Expressive Activity Policy update (Kristin McMurray/Collin Richmond) McMurray and Richmond provided the following updates:
• The policy went to public comment. Questions and feedback were immediately received from students and student organizations related to confusing language and confusion that this policy was a new attempt to stifle free speech and protests. A preamble section was added to explain where some of the language currently resided and that it wasn’t a 100% new policy (Campus Administrative Manual, Student Code and Public Safety’s Demonstration Response Plan).
• Due to the feedback received, the public comment period was extended and outreach was done. Some of the policy authors met with Illinois Student Government (ISG) leaders; Student Affairs directors; LaCasa student leaders; additional meeting with ISG during one of their public meetings, which included members of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Office of the Dean of Student’s and Public Safety office; Student Affairs lunch bunch, and the Senate Committee on University
Student Life.
• Where are we today: The policy authors are receiving the feedback and analyzing the feedback from other groups, ISG leaders provided written feedback on the policy, the Student Bar Association provided a draft of their recommendations and included specific language.
• Where do you go now: Continue to put a pause on moving the policy forward until all the feedback has been reviewed; do a constructive rewrite of the policy and then go back to some of the groups and stakeholders that provided questions and review again with them and then go through the normal process. Due to upcoming breaks (Thanksgiving and Winter Break), a new draft will most likely not be available until the start of the spring semester.
• Other components that are being considered based on some of the suggestions heard, would include having a third party review the policy, such as FIRE (www.thefire.org) (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education). Other third party organizations are being considered to provide feedback.
• Some of the activities in the policy are further outlined in the Demonstration Response Plan (DRP) (https://police.illinois.edu/emergency-preparedness/demonstrations/). As part of the DRP process it will be reviewed annually. The DRP was formalized in 2019 and due to COVID in 2020, the review was not done but Public Safety is committed to moving that review forward.
• Supplemental definitions may need to be added for clarity.
The committee asked questions and provided additional feedback to McMurray and Richmond.
Topic of Discussion
• Student mental health
• Student hunger issues
XV. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 am.
https://www.senate.illinois.edu/committees.asp
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