Sample Student Government Resolution
WHEREAS students have played a vital role in many major social movements, including the school desegregation movement, anti-war movements, and the anti-globalization movement; AND
WHEREAS in the tradition of these social movements, members of the [student government] believe we must take a stand against federal government counter-terrorism laws and policy, including portions of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Homeland Security Act, and related Executive Orders and Federal Regulations, that threaten academic freedom by:
- Restricting the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, which can affect the quality of academic research
- Restricting who may conduct scientific research using certain biological materials
- Limiting visas for foreign students and scholars and increasing the burden for foreign students, and particularly students from Arab and Muslim countries, to travel to and study in the United States through programs such as SEVIS and Special Registration (NSEERS)
- Allowing surveillance of public and private communications, including infiltrating and monitoring student organizations engaged in political advocacy or religious practice
- Allowing Federal agents to collect information from academic libraries while placing gag orders on librarians from disclosing occurrences of providing that information; AND
WHEREAS our campus community strives to create a climate that maximizes each individual's ability to receive a quality education, which requires an institution in which diversity is embraced, valued, and celebrated; AND
WHEREAS, [# of campuses – obtain # from bordc.org] throughout the country have enacted resolutions reaffirming support for human rights and freedoms of their students in the face of government and campus policies that threaten these values;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that [Student government] calls on the [Campus Police Officers] to:
- Refrain from engaging in the surveillance of individuals or groups of individuals based on their participation in activities protected by the First Amendment, such as political advocacy or the practice of a religion, without particularized suspicion of criminal activity unrelated to the activity protected by the First Amendment
- Refrain from assisting in the secret or military detention or deportation of any member of our campus community
- Refrain from participating in a joint search of property or a residence with any law enforcement agency, absent the assurance that simultaneous notice of the execution of a search warrant has been given to the targeted member of our campus community
- Remind students that they are entitled to legal advice before they speak with law enforcement personnel
- Consult with the Office of the General Counsel [or similar legal office] if local, state, or federal law enforcement asks you to cooperate in an action you believe to be against campus policy or unconstitutional; AND
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that [Student government] requests [Campus Library] to post in a prominent place within the library a notice to library users as follows: WARNING: Under Section 215 of the federal USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107-56), records of the books and other materials you borrow from this library may be obtained by federal agents. That federal law prohibits librarians from informing you if federal agents have obtained records about you. Questions about this policy should be directed to: Attorney General John Ashcroft, Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20530; AND
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED [Student Government] calls on [President or Dean] to report to members of the [campus] community every term in a form that facilitates a public assessment of the effect of federal counter-terrorism efforts on students, faculty, and staff at [Campus]:
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The extent to which law enforcement agents are monitoring political meetings, religious gatherings, or other activities protected by the First Amendment on our campus;
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The number of times education records have been obtained from [campus] under section 507 of the USA PATRIOT Act;
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The number of times library records have been obtained from [campus] libraries under section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act;
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The number of times that records of the books purchased by bookstore patrons have been obtained under section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act;
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The number of times students, faculty and staff have been unable to enter the US and/or resume their studies or teaching functions due to visa denials;
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The number of times faculty and student research and publications have been suppressed or otherwise restricted due to federal concern for security or political reasons; AND
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that [Student government] will vigorously defend the constitutionally protected rights of all students to peacefully protest and express our political and religious views within the confines of the First Amendment without fear of excessive governmental and campus administrative scrutiny; AND
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that [Student government] affirms that our campus is a hate-free zone and denounces all attempts to discriminate against or intimidate students based on their nationality, religion, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, or political ideology; AND
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that [Student Government] commits to organizing a forum addressing student privacy concerns consisting of a panel of relevant campus administrators, professors, and community members; AND
FINALLY BE IT RESOLVED that [President of Student Government] will transmit a copy of this resolution to the President of [campus], members of the [Campus] Board of Directors [or Board of Regents], and [Head of Campus Police] accompanied by a letter urging them to ensure that counter-terrorism laws and policies be implemented in a manner that protects the civil liberties of our students, faculty, and staff.