Tracie Goldman thinks the Student Disorderly Conduct Policy demonstrates fairness between students and administration.
The policy, passed at the Dec. 8 MSU Board of Trustees meeting, differed from the preceding interim policy in that officials are prevented from disciplining students from rioting until a verdict is reached by the campus judiciary. Students are also held responsible for their actions at other college campuses and in areas adjacent to MSU.
“As MSU students, we represent our school regardless of where our bodies physically are,” said Goldman, a social relations sophomore. “The school grants a fair trial, so if the student didn’t do anything wrong, they shouldn’t have anything to worry about.”
Board members passed the policy with six members for, one against and one abstention.
Many are pleased with the joint efforts between students and faculty in reaching a conclusion.
President M. Peter McPherson said the University Committee on Student Affairs response to the board’s resolution a year ago was constructive and helpful.
“I felt that the students and administration worked extremely well,” he said.
And others think the policy will be appreciated by students.
“Students are going to be supportive,” said Trustee Donald Nugent. “Students really demonstrated that they did not approve of what happened in East Lansing (two years ago), and so the efforts of the students to work with the faculty demonstrate their desire to have a good policy.”
Students rioted in March of 1999 after the MSU Men’s Basketball team was defeated in the Final Four.
The exchange of ideas between students and faculty was a large part of the revised policy, said Jeff Ziarko, chairperson of the University Committee on Student Affairs.
“I think the policy was very much a compromise,” he said. “The administration didn’t get everything they wanted, and the students didn’t (either).
“Overall it is fair and balanced.”
Some students like Lisa Blechman are not happy with the entire policy.
“It’s really not fair for students to be judged for things they do off campus,” said Blechman, a business sophomore. “If you are not destroying campus property, then it really should not be a campus issue.”
Andy Pass, an education doctoral student feels differently.
“Students need to be held accountable for their behavior,” Pass said. “We should be embarrassed to have a bad reputation about our school because of only a few students’ (actions).”
With mixed opinions of the passed policy, one conclusion Ziarko has is common among both students and faculty.
“(The policy) sends out a strong message that the entire university community does not approve of what happened two years ago,” he said. “It is my hope that this is the last time the community has to talk about riots.”
