A resolution to condemn the removal of B Level sanctions, one of the proposed changes to the Student Code of Conduct, was passed by Graduate Student Senate at Monday night’s meeting.
A resolution to condemn the removal of B Level sanctions, one of the proposed changes to the Student Code of Conduct, was passed by Graduate Student Senate at Monday night’s meeting.
“The Student Code of Conduct has not had major revisions in multiple decades,” said Carl Edward Smith III, president of Graduate Student Senate. He opposes proposed changes.
One of the previously proposed alterations to the Student Code of Conduct was changing the appeals process, where Ryan Lombardi, Vice President for Student Affairs, would have lost his ability to review sanctions where suspension or expulsion were not on the table.
University officials agreed to keep that final stage of appeal after criticism from GSS.
“Last year, undergraduate Student Senate thought it would be a great idea to remove Level B sanctions," Smith said. "This year’s undergraduate Student Senate is not in favor. I see no reason to support removing Level B offenses.”
Currently, the code of conduct is broken into Level A and B offenses. The maximum punishment for Level B offenses is probation. Infractions include possession of marijuana and disturbing the peace.
Level A offenses can lead to suspension or expulsion, and include the destruction of property and trespassing. Eliminating B level sanctions would mean that the punishment for any offense could possibly be suspension or expulsion.
“Getting rid of B Level sanctions make it smoother for them to do what they want to do," said John Strohl, GSS's Vice President for Communication. "This does not make it easier for students."
The proposed changes to the Student Code of Conduct are on the agenda for the October Board of Trustees meeting, Smith said. Any changes would have to be approved by the board, OU's governing body.
“I don’t support the proposed, it leaves too much up to administration to suspend,” said Hannah Farchione, vice president for Committees and Legislative Affairs.
GSS also discussed how City Council is looking at changing fines for littering. Police officers are hitting the “hot spots” on weekends where students live off campus, and fining the property owners early in the morning before the students are given a chance to clean up the mess, said Chelsea Foster, GSS's governmental affairs commissioner.
“It doesn’t give them a fair chance to clean up the trash. If they are already getting fined, it leaves no incentive for the students to clean up the trash,” Foster said.
Several new members were appointed to Graduate Student Senate. A resolution was also passed to fund $200 for Grad Fest which took place on Sept. 12, and another separate resolution was passed to fund $200 for the next Grad Fest planned for Oct. 12.
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