Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume. 34, Number 12. June 16, 1971

[Introduction]

* "Misconduct includes... any conduct which is unbecoming to members of the University.

* "The student shall not...be entitled to be represented by agent or counsel.

* "Where the Proctor has reasonable grounds for believing that a disturbance is taking place he may take appropriate action including entry into a student residence.

* "Drunkedness...will be regarded by the Council as a ground for severe disciplinary action.

This is what the University of Otago intended for students. The University Council wished to "protect students" by the introduction of such repugnant legislation.

The extracts quoted above are only examples of the disciplinary regulations which the Vice-Chancellor Dr Williams and the Council pushed through two weeks ago. Discussion at Council and at other preliminary bodies on he regulations was unable to be transmitted to students for their opinions because the whole of the proceedings were in closed committee.

Immediately the Council released the proposed regulations, however, student opposition manifested itself in the form of daily forums, "action" committees, a telephone campaign to individual council members asking why they supported the regulations.

The issue became one of national concern when Otago's President Ebraima Manneh raised the matter at an NZUSA National Executive meeting at Christchurch over Queen's Birthday weekend. A three hour discussion resulted in the unanimous condemnation of the actions of the Otago Council and the Vice Chancellor in particular.

The degree of solidarity can be seen by the following motions from the meeting.

1. That the President of NZUSA make strong representations to the Vice-Chancellor of Otago, stating NZUSA policy against interference in private lives of students and drawing attention especially to the intolerable definition of "misconduct" and to the powers given to the Proctor in respect of both internal and external discipline regulations and to support OUSA's insistence on the suspension of the regulations until full consultation with the student body has taken place.

(Collins/Gunn)

2. That NZUSA National Executive deplore the attitude of the University of Otago Vice-Chancellor, in his handling of the negotiation of the new Discipline regulations at the University of Otago, and consequently questions his suitability for the post of Director-General of Education.

(Spring/Emms)

3. That NZUSA condemns the irresponsible attitude of the University of Otago Council and its failure to respond to the Student Association concern (expressed through the proper channels) over the university's blatant disregard in the new Discipline regulations for basic civil liberties; and That NZUSA make clear its view that such action by the University encourages open dissent by students, debases the credibility of the University and is "unbecoming" to the good name of the University.

(Swan/Caygill)

4. That we members of the NZUSA National Executive (consisting of the Presidents of all New Zealand University Students Associations and the Officers of NZUSA) do unanimously support Otago students in their stand over the discipline regulations.

(Cuthbert/Emms)