Committee to revise Joint Statement of student rights
Confusion over the document's function sparks future changes
Madeline LoBosco
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: News
Recently, a new committee started evaluating the University's Joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students. The group continues to examine the document and plans to rewrite the statement for the upcoming academic year.
Trinity adopted the Joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students in the 1980s, but the document was actually created in 1967 by a nation-wide group of representatives from several education-oriented groups. During this time, as students across the country were questioning their rights, faculty and students felt the need to explicitly state these freedoms.
The document can be found in the Trinity University Student Handbook and on the school's Web site. It addresses a number of issues ranging from the freedom of access to higher education and protection against improper academic evaluation to organizational rules and Student Conduct Board procedures.
"The purpose is to provide a document that students can turn to in order to get a sense of the freedoms on campus," said Senior Adam Cason, president of the Association of Student Representatives (ASR). "It allows students to see what is expected of them and also what they can expect from the administration."
While the purpose of the document is to provide a sense of the University's freedoms for students, it also includes a number of policy explanations, which can cloud the statement's original intent.
ASR Senator Cesar Giralt, senior, said the document currently contains two things in one. It touches on the more philosophical issues such as students' rights and freedoms but also includes legislative rules and policies.
Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life David Tuttle said the statement had not undergone a comprehensive review in quite some time. He also said the document contains some information that has inaccuracies, lists rules, and is not philosophical.
"It was time to review it, see if it was relevant for us and see what kind of improvements we could make," Tuttle said.
Trinity adopted the Joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students in the 1980s, but the document was actually created in 1967 by a nation-wide group of representatives from several education-oriented groups. During this time, as students across the country were questioning their rights, faculty and students felt the need to explicitly state these freedoms.
The document can be found in the Trinity University Student Handbook and on the school's Web site. It addresses a number of issues ranging from the freedom of access to higher education and protection against improper academic evaluation to organizational rules and Student Conduct Board procedures.
"The purpose is to provide a document that students can turn to in order to get a sense of the freedoms on campus," said Senior Adam Cason, president of the Association of Student Representatives (ASR). "It allows students to see what is expected of them and also what they can expect from the administration."
While the purpose of the document is to provide a sense of the University's freedoms for students, it also includes a number of policy explanations, which can cloud the statement's original intent.
ASR Senator Cesar Giralt, senior, said the document currently contains two things in one. It touches on the more philosophical issues such as students' rights and freedoms but also includes legislative rules and policies.
Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life David Tuttle said the statement had not undergone a comprehensive review in quite some time. He also said the document contains some information that has inaccuracies, lists rules, and is not philosophical.
"It was time to review it, see if it was relevant for us and see what kind of improvements we could make," Tuttle said.
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