By: Jessica Fisher, Staff Writer
A new semester entails many things: buying and renting textbooks, surviving drop
-add, using way too many dining dollars way too fast. It is enough to make any student’s head spin. Some students came back to something that caught them off guard.
While not necessarily “new,” students were left feeling as if a certain part of their Spring 2015 syllabi was new, at least to them.
The section in question is as follows:
“No students shall assemble on the campus for the purpose of creating a riot, or destructive or disorderly diversion, or obstructing or disrupting the normal operation of the university, including any teaching, administrative, disciplinary or public service activity, or any other activity authorized to take place on the campus.”
Looking through all four of my syllabuses from last semester, the above language is noticeably absent from all of them. Of the four syllabuses this semester, two of them contain the above language.
This is not language I ever recall encountering over five semesters at Georgia Highlands College. This language feels more reminiscent of my days at Adairsville High School, where one teacher insisted it would be not only against school policy, but unconstitutional for students to form a communist organization on campus.
In the wake of last semester’s die-in in front of The Commons, this language feels like a slap in the face. Arguably all of this is coincidental, but it does not feel that way.
Concerning the language, Dean of Students Michael Sansivero highlighted the fact that the language has existed in its current form since the 1980’s. He also spoke to how the language is applicable, “That day that that [the die-in] happened, a student contacted me, quoting the student code of conduct to me and saying, ‘Isn’t this a violation of that in the code of conduct?’ and I asked in response, ‘Was there any attempt to restrict you as a student from going into The Commons?’ and the student said, ‘Well, no.’ I said, ‘So you were not actually impeded from being able to engage in your normal activity on the campus, it might have been inconvenient because you had to walk around a few people that you don’t normally walk around, but were you in any way, shape or form, stopped from going in The Commons?’ and the answer was, ‘No.’ Well then really, this policy doesn’t actually apply.”
Certain chairs of departments were also asked to comment, none responded.
Language matters. If it did not then the first day of classes would not be dedicated to the thorough process of reading and going through the syllabus. The above language exists in the student code of conduct as well as in certain syllabuses because it is understood to mean something.
If an activist student is to assume best intentions then that student may pair the above language with the presence of a ‘Free Speech Area’ on campus and the presence of avenues within which to hold events of many different kinds.
For that, one must wonder what the “normal operation” of a university looks like.
Kennesaw State University claims the following in their Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities:
“Kennesaw State University is an educational community composed of individuals from different ethnic, racial, and religious groups and of different genders, political beliefs, ages, abilities, and sexual orientations. In light of this diversity, Kennesaw State University is resolved to contribute to the development of an integrated, pluralistic society in which individuals model and support humaneness and respect for the individual.”
The “normal operation” of KSU includes such resources as Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) trainings for men and women, but I have yet to find the answer to the question, “As a transwoman, will I be asked to attend RAD for men, or will I be allowed to participate in RAD for women?”
The “normal operation” of KSU includes a deficit of gender-neutral restrooms and the lack of clarity of whether or not a transwoman is allowed into the women’s room.
The “normal operation” of KSU did not seem to include any kind of press release or statement clarifying where the university stood in the wake of the Darren Wilson decision. Such silence can understandably make students anxious. KSU has a Department of Public Safety. What can students living on campus expect from this department?
In the early weeks of 2015, three transwomen have been murdered, including Lamia Beard. Can transgender students living on campus expect protection from a university whose official language does not include protection or inclusion of phrases such as “gender identity” or “gender expression”?
By the mere virtue of accepting admission and paying tuition students are agreeing to hold up the code of conduct handed down to them by the university. However, if that code of conduct does not hold up students, should those students stay here at KSU, or move on to a university that will honor who they are?
Feature Photo Courtesy of perronjeremie
