New promotions policy in the works

A new policy concerning how student organizations promote their events on campus is in the works.

Tom Miles, director of Student Activities, is in the process of drafting a new policy for student organizations, such as sororities and Christian groups, for what types and where these organizations can post messages on campus.

“It is a time for updating and modernizing the policy,” Miles said.

Miles read a draft of the policy at the Student Affairs Committee meeting on Oct. 7, and committee members discussed its content. He will present a new version of the policy at the next meeting this Friday. Miles is in charge of drawing up the new policy because the Student Activities Department deals with organizations that want to post messages on campus.

“There are two issues that are being discussed: who should have the responsibility for permission for advertising and the kinds of things that need to be advertised,” said Dr. Eustace Palmer, faculty adviser to the Student Affairs Committee

Miles’ next draft will likely not be the final policy because he will have to incorporate the committee’s feedback with more revisions.

“We are not there yet about all the things that need to change,” Miles said.

A change Miles wants to make concerns places where students can post their messages on campus.

“The policy we have now lists places where students can’t post,” Miles said. “The new policy will list places where they can post.”

Another issue is what messages or flyers are deemed as inappropriate. The current policy does not offer guidelines on messages that are deemed as offensive to students or members of the community, leaving up to Miles to have the final say on whether or not the message is appropriate. For example, some people might feel that a flyer promoting alcohol is offensive, while others may not be offended.

In the new policy, Miles wants certain guidelines on what is an appropriate message or an inappropriate message. Miles wants to have these guidelines to present a good image to members of the community.

“The university has to set a community standard for what messages should be allowed,” Miles said.

Also being discussed is an appeals process for students whose messages are denied, along with policies for messages being posted by organizations not affiliated with GC&SU. While many students may shrug this issue under the carpet, the faculty members believe that the student body should pay close attention.

“Students have a say in this (issue), and they ought to care about it,” Palmer said.

The new policy could be ratified in time for the spring semester.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Nov 4 2005. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry