The Student Government Association (SGA) brought a controversial topic to the Tuesday, Feb. 23 meeting. The topic of discussion involved the stance of both the administration and SGA on the role of unrecognized, off-campus student group members’ participation in on-campus groups. The discussion’s participants included the Senate, administrators, members of off-campus groups and other students with thoughts on the issue.
This discussion originated from last week’s meeting when senators expressed confusion and concerns about university and organization policies, or lack thereof, regarding off-campus groups.
“There is a difference between policy and practice,” began Dr. Tim Pierson, vice president for Student Affairs and adviser to the SGA. Pierson said that while policy is strictly outlined in the Student Handbook or in the constitutions of organizations, practice is what individuals actually do. This is often interpreted as policy. There is currently no university-wide policy that requires on-campus organizations to prohibit off- campus group members from joining their club, though there are allegedly some on-campus organizations that have done so.
“There’s groups vs. individuals,” Pierson said. “Longwood University, all our resources, everything here is for every student.”
Pierson is aware of students who were reportedly turned away from on-campus organizations because they were part of off-campus groups.
“Is this fundamentally fair?” Pierson asked the crowd. “I don’t know.”
Pierson described the issue as “complicated.”
Pierson said there is a difference between university-wide and individual department policies (e.g., Campus Recreation and the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life), as requirements within specific departments are not necessarily universal. Ultimately, Pierson said if there is to be a university-wide policy regarding the participation of off-campus group members in recognized organizations, it must go through a certain process. The first step is for the student, faculty, organization or department promoting the possible policy to present it to the Community Standards Committee. The next measure, said Pierson, is for this individual or individuals to speak with groups it may impact, such as the SGA. Pierson must approve this policy next and take it to the cabinet consisting of the president and all of the vice presidents. Finally, a proposed policy must be approved by the Board of Visitors in order to become part of the Student Handbook. Pierson said the handbook is a “contract we have with you that ... we will follow.” Dr. Rick Chassey, director of the Office of Student Conduct and Integrity, presented a draft that he said is an attempt to accurately summarize both the university administration’s and the SGA’s stance on off-campus groups. He noted that this draft is in the beginning stages and can go through many changes before being finalized or added to the Student Handbook. “Once there is a clear and consistent stance both from the student government and the administration, at that point, and only at that point, would I feel comfortable even thinking about bringing it up to the Board of Visitors,” said Chassey.
Chassey read the following draft to the meeting attendees:
“Unrecognized student groups 1) do not seek of- ficial university recognition or 2) lost recognition from the university and/or a national organization but continue to operate as an organization. Unrecognized student groups choose to exist off campus and have not followed the policies and regulations to become a recognized organization as stated by the Student Government Association.
“Longwood University does not support unrecognized student groups or membership in unrecognized student groups. In the event of inappropriate behavior within an unrecognized group, the university must then hold its individual student members accountable.
“The university may also hold accountable, through legal action if necessary, unrecognized stu- dent groups that purport to be in partnership with Longwood University when, in fact, they are not.
“Recognized student organizations within Student Government Association guidelines may develop membership requirements that disqualify students currently involved with a recognized group.
“Benefits of belonging to a recognized student organization include Student Government Association funding, access to university facilities and resources, participation in campus leadership opportunities and employment, excellence award recognition, participation in campus events such as Oktoberfest or Spring Weekend, local, regional and national conference activities, university-sponsored community service and philanthropic projects.”
Chassey said the draft is an attempt to “summarize the current practice. That’s an issue that you guys need to discuss. I’m willing to go either way. “
“SGA needs to talk about discrimination; how much discrimination is okay or if any discrimination is okay,” added Chassey.
Chassey used the general example of whether a Republican-oriented group would be able to turn away Democrats.
“I’m willing to go into whatever direction you guys want to go in, as long as it’s legitimate and fair,” said Chassey.
As far as the portion of the draft regarding off- campus groups’ participation in university-wide philanthropic events, members of off-campus groups attending the meeting said the recent practice seems to be that individuals in these groups can partake in the events if they do not use their group name to register.
SGA Senior Class President Gina DeMarco addressed the section of the draft that said members of unrecognized groups do not seek official university recognition. She said this should be changed because some off-campus groups have come to the SGA, asking for recognition, and have been denied.
Zack Jackson, president of off-campus group Gamma Psi, commented that there should be more support for off-campus organizations coming to campus.
“I think there definitely needs to be thoughts on a policy of not trying to not support but supporting [unrecognized groups] coming to campus because that would solve a lot of these problems,” said Jackson. “If we were able to get on campus in the first place, you wouldn’t have to write that policy.”
SGA Vice President Brian Reid agreed with Jackson’s sentiment but said some off-campus groups interested in being recognized by the SGA were asked to address concerns the SGA had about their constitutions and refused to do so.
However, SGA President Donald Knight said he would be interested in starting a dialogue with unrecognized groups who would like university and SGA recognition.
“I don’t believe that just because you’re part of an off-campus organization that you should be discriminated against at all,” said Knight.
Knight later added, “We all have our own beliefs, we all have different values that we’ve gained in our lifetime, and you should not be discriminated against based upon that.”
DeMarco proposed that the SGA form a committee to discuss the SGA’s formal stance on the issue. The Senate agreed to meet after the next SGA meeting on Tuesday, March 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the BC rooms of Lankford Student Union for an open discussion on the matter.
Dr. Tim Pierson leads a discussion during yesterday's SGA meeting.
