Spring Break
Permit process to be revised
Student event spurred decision for change
Kimberly Lien
Issue date: 5/15/07 Section: News
In response to complaints surrounding a Students for Change event held during Palestine Awareness Week, the Student Union is looking into revising its process for granting student event permits, said Terry Gregory, associate director of the Student Union.
According to Sarah Morris, the president of Students for Change, the group is trying to bring awareness to social injustice all over the world, but its focus has recently been on Palestine.
The event in question involved some members of the group dressed in fatigues and carrying plastic pipes as they enacted what they say a citizen might experience when attempting to pass through a military checkpoint along the West Bank barrier built by Israel, Morris said.
"Because of the nature of what this circumstance involved - some people accusing other people of hate speech -," Gregory said, "we are speaking with our attorney and UPD (to revise the permit process)."
Gregory said the current procedure for reviewing permit requests involves paperwork to be completed and submitted to the Student Union and University Police Department.
The procedure will likely change to involve an interview with a student organization requesting a permit and an interview Student Union representative, which will involve both parties discussing exactly what will take place during the event to be held, Gregory said.
An interview is already a part of the process for requesting use of the Barret Ballroom in the Student Union, Gregory said.
"We're not interested in censuring anything," Gregory said. "We just need to know what it is that we're approving."
UPD Sgt. John Laws said the department has not heard from anyone in the Student Union administration regarding the Students for Change event in question, and that the group did not violate any policies or procedures.
"If anyone were to tell us they were in violation of their permit," Laws said, "it would be (the Student Union)."
UPD officers were present during the group's event on Seventh Street Plaza to ensure safety and security, and never had to step in to stop or interrupt the group, Laws said.
According to Sarah Morris, the president of Students for Change, the group is trying to bring awareness to social injustice all over the world, but its focus has recently been on Palestine.
The event in question involved some members of the group dressed in fatigues and carrying plastic pipes as they enacted what they say a citizen might experience when attempting to pass through a military checkpoint along the West Bank barrier built by Israel, Morris said.
"Because of the nature of what this circumstance involved - some people accusing other people of hate speech -," Gregory said, "we are speaking with our attorney and UPD (to revise the permit process)."
Gregory said the current procedure for reviewing permit requests involves paperwork to be completed and submitted to the Student Union and University Police Department.
The procedure will likely change to involve an interview with a student organization requesting a permit and an interview Student Union representative, which will involve both parties discussing exactly what will take place during the event to be held, Gregory said.
An interview is already a part of the process for requesting use of the Barret Ballroom in the Student Union, Gregory said.
"We're not interested in censuring anything," Gregory said. "We just need to know what it is that we're approving."
UPD Sgt. John Laws said the department has not heard from anyone in the Student Union administration regarding the Students for Change event in question, and that the group did not violate any policies or procedures.
"If anyone were to tell us they were in violation of their permit," Laws said, "it would be (the Student Union)."
UPD officers were present during the group's event on Seventh Street Plaza to ensure safety and security, and never had to step in to stop or interrupt the group, Laws said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
K. Tyson
posted 5/25/07 @ 11:03 AM EST
I noticed that the "protest" did not feature women who pretended to be pregnant but really had bombs attached to their belly. If you are going to have a complete protest, then I suggest adding suicide bombers. (Continued…)
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