Another involvement chance come and gone

Accept off-campus policies or work towards change

By: Royal Purple staff

Posted: 4/2/08

At least once a year, there is a big party bust at UW-Whitewater. Last semester it was the 87 students at 157 N. Prairie St. The bust made headlines all over southern Wisconsin because of both the size of the party and the potential price of all the tickets.

For the 81 underage students who were caught for drinking, barring they were not a repeat offender, fines were of the typical $298 variety. However, for six of the tenants in the house, penalties could have totaled more than $50,000 each.

The fines handed down in municipal court were less: more than a $1,000 dollars per person. Students involved with the party and their friends voiced their displeasure with the original outlook, but to their relief the fines were pulled back.

Regardless, the more important thing is the backlash by the university that could be detrimental.

Two of the students were suspended, and four others received lesser sanction from the university; one even lost his job. The fines pale in comparison to the possible backlash from the university, and what constitutes academic misconduct may be changed.

A UW System policy revision committee recently released a proposal to modify Chapters 17 and 18 of the UW System's laws.

Chapter 17 covers student nonacademic disciplinary procedures, and Chapter 18 covers conduct on university lands.

In order to effectively revise the two chapters of the System's administrative rules, the Chapters UWS 17 and 18 Review Committee has enlisted the input of students, university staff and the public.

By going to the Web site www.wisconsin.edu/admincode, students and others interested in offering their suggestions can view the already suggested revisions and find means to offer their own feedback. The original window for public feedback passed March 11. However, it is still possible to contact members of the Board of Regents and make suggestions.

Many a time, there are instances like the Prairie Street party bust last October when students who feel wronged suddenly voice their displeasure, crying injustice. All 87 involved were off campus when the bust occurred, yet many received sanctions from the university. How many e-mailed their responses to this committee? Probably very few.

The point is there are opportunities like this one when students can have a hand in changing the policies they find unfair, and they should be capitalized on.

In a matter of weeks there will be open forums to meet finalists for the new chancellor of UW-Whitewater. This will be a chance for students and faculty alike to gather and have an active hand in the selection process that will choose the next chancellor.

These are the opportunities that are important. As of right now, most students will not go to the forum and see who is running. It's because many students are apathetic. Democracy, although touted as being the shining star of this country, is an oft-neglected tool.

"The machine is running just fine, why should I tinker with it?" is the question most young people hold in their brains.

It's the same question that resides in the backs of their minds when a city council meeting arises to discuss parking regulations downtown, and very few students show up. However, those same absent students are the first ones to cry injustice when their car gets towed or they get a ticket. Where were you in the months prior when this policy was being decided?

Here's a better question: do you want to make a difference and prevent future run-ins with campus and city policy? Try to take an active hand in the tons of democracy-based processes that surround our lives and offer you the chance to change those policies.

Millions of people in countries around the world would kill for such chances; many do. But many students will seldom get up off the couch.