The university has told the St. Thomas University students’ union it will delay implementing the draft student code of conduct, which covers off-campus activities as well as summer breaks.
Representatives from the STUSU met with STU president Dawn Russell who agreed to delay the code and begin a consultation process.
“We went in wanting to bring some of our concerns about the process forward. But more importantly the matters that we felt that upon review of the initial draft needed to be looked at,” said Mark Livingstone, STUSU president.
“At the meeting [president Russell] received some additional feedback on the draft code of conduct,” said STU’s director of communications Jeffrey Carleton.
“Very soon Dr. Craig, vice-president academic, will be meeting with the students’ union to hear their concerns in more detail and he’s also going to discuss with them the university’s plans for an information consultation process with students,” he added.
Last week, STU vice-president academic Barry Craig said he wanted the code in place by the beginning of October.
A copy of the draft code, which was provided to The Aquinian last week, states that the university will take action regarding off-campus violations only if it involves at least two STU students, or happens at a university sectioned event, or happens when STU students are representing the university, such as at an athletics event.
On Sept. 9, Craig was asked how much input the STUSU could have. He said it can give all the feedback and input they want if they have concerns, or if there is something that is unclear, improper or inappropriate.
“I’d be surprised at this point because we’ve put a lot of time into this and, as I said, had student involvement and legal involvement. But if there is, we’ll take it seriously and take a look at it,” Craig said.
On Sunday Carleton echoed Craig’s statement.
“We have a very, pretty comprehensive draft now that is consistent with student codes of conduct across the country. It’s a matter now of fine tuning the section and looking at the concerns that the students’ union have brought forward,” said Carleton.
At the regular STUSU Thursday meeting, STUSU vice-president education Craig Mazerolle presented a document outlining the unions’ concerns with the draft code.
“Obviously there are a lot of issues with the code of conduct we have to deal with,” said Mazerolle on Thursday.
“Its not simply just an amalgamation of all these pre-existing policies. There is many new things being written into it.”
The document he presented calls on the university to conduct consultation with students, faculty and staff in partnership with the STUSU and extend the review period of the proposed code of student conduct to allow the university senate to properly review and comment on the document.
The STUSU has asked the university to hold town hall-style meetings with anyone interested in providing feedback as well as sending out anonymous email surveys.
“Our concerns were well received by the university,” said Livingstone after the meeting with Russell on Friday.
“They’ve indicated they will give the process appropriate time so that we can work together on finding common ground on a few issues.”
He said the consultation process will likely continue for up to two months and go to the STU board of governors.
He said the next formal board meeting is on Dec. 3, pushing approval of the new code back by months.
The university did not respond to interview requests before press time and did not confirm Livingstone’s timeline.
Last year, the university said it wanted the new code in place before welcome week started.
Livingstone emphasized he was pleased the university decided to listen to student feedback.
“It is very much appreciated,” he said.
Livingstone said he’d heard a lot of feedback from students about the draft code, mostly concerns about the off-campus provisions.
“They felt as though that it would be encroaching on their privacy and has certainly been one of the primary concerns that has been brought to us by students.”
At the meeting STU president Russell wanted to make sure to thank the members of that group for the wording of the draft.
The draft code was written by a committee of professor Kim Fenwick, professor Sara Macdonald, professor John Coates, dean of students Larry Batt, registrar Karen Preston, former students’ union president Ella Henry, students’ union appointee Meredith Gillis, president’s appointee Matt Sheriko, athletics coach Scott Davis.
Livingstone said he wants to continue to hear students concerns and said he can provide students a copy of the draft to read if they wish.
Carleton said copies will be made available to students when the consultation process begins.
