The UW System revealed a new code of conduct Feb. 26 that allows the universities to expand their punishment of students for their off-campus behavior.
Presently, university officials are restricted to disciplining students mainly for on-campus behavior, behavior that interferes with the university's off-campus activities or for assaults against university employees and students.
However, under this new set of rules, administrators are able to punish students for crimes that occur off campus grounds regardless if the victim is an employee or student of the university.
Some of the newly added rules are necessary, but a few of them are not only unfair to students but also an invasion of their privacy.
Several of the new policies included with the new code of conduct were understandable additions.
After all, if a student assaults a university staff member, another student or anyone for that matter, on or off campus, then the student should be punished.
Under the pre-existing code of conduct, if a student assaulted a university employee or another student off campus, he or she would be punished by the school, but if that student attacked someone from outside the university they would not. Clearly, this expansion of policy is not only understandable but also sensible.
Also, included in the proposed conduct set for students are rules against forgery and falsification and a new rule governing the use of computing resources. These revisions to the code of conduct are necessary, but some of the revisions violate students' rights.
In particular, the biggest concern for the new conduct set is the idea that municipal law violations are now punishable by university administrators.
So not only would one get ticketed and fined but may also have to face school officials. The punishment administered from the university could range from a simple written warning to denial of certain school privileges to suspension or even expulsion.
Technically, under the proposed rule set, a student could face expulsion as a result of repeated noise violations. This is ridiculous.
Not only should the university not concern itself with minor law violations committed by students, but to do so is an invasion of students' privacy.
Imposing on what a student can do off campus is not right, with the exception of instances involving university employees, or students or when a serious crime is committed. But if you happen to be a little too loud at night and the neighbors get pissed at you, is it really OK for the university to step in and punish the students involved after they have already been ticketed and fined by the police?
The main reasoning behind these sort of additions was the added pressure neighborhoods around the UW - oMilwaukee campus had been giving the school for years about unruly college students.
Several neighborhood groups around that campus have demanded stricter rules so the university may place tighter control on disruptive students. Unfortunately, all UW system students could end up paying the price.
Ryan Dashek is a senior majoring in biology. We welcome your feedback. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
