Julia Garrison
News Editor
Scot Council discussed their drafted recommendation to reject the proposed demonstration guidelines put forward last semester by the dean of students. Scot Council discussed revisions to the document that had been enacted before the week’s meeting.
The Student Speech and Demonstration guidelines — referred to as both guidelines and policy in discussions with administration — were introduced in their draft form last semester. These guidelines were spurred by the recent uptick in protests at higher education institutions, according to interviews with President Anne McCall and Ashley Reid, dean of students, from last semester. The drafted guidelines encouraged students to register acts of protest or demonstration with the dean of students office up to 72 hours before the event is slated to occur.
Students at a public conduct committee meeting on Nov. 14 unanimously voted for Scot Council to recommend rejection of these proposed guidelines. Many students at the meeting voiced concerns about how the guidelines could be a potential first step in a more controlled atmosphere in regards to speech restrictions on campus.
Scot Council’s recommendation to reject the guidelines outlines student concerns brought forth at the conduct committee meeting, including criticisms on the lack of clarity and alignment with the Scot’s Key.
Citing from their constitution, a recommendation from Scot Council needs presidential approval to be enacted. McCall will receive Scot Council’s recommendation and have 30 business days to consider the decision. McCall is able to inform Scot Council about the approval of the decision, recommend modifications for further deliberation, hold the matter for consideration by the board of trustees or veto the decision. If McCall were to veto Scot Council’s recommendation, Scot Council could then submit the decision to the board of trustees for further consideration. The organization would need two-thirds of its entire membership to vote to send their recommendation to the trustees.
Scot Council also reviewed a more thorough document that outlined the entirety of the conduct committee conversation with students. Many students, although wary of the guidelines, shared that they believe the College could take alternative steps to work to create a more open atmosphere for free speech and demonstration.
