For Immediate Release:
[Date]
[Organization name]
[telephone number, and e-mail]
University Student Government to Consider Resolution to Defend the Bill of Rights
[Location, date]: Student government member [Name] will introduce
a Resolution to Defend the Bill of Rights to the [Student Government]
at its meeting on [Day of the week, date, and time] in [location].
The resolution addresses student concerns that the USA PATRIOT Act
and related counter-terrorism laws and policies threaten academic
freedom and key rights guaranteed to U.S. citizens and non-citizens
by the Bill of Rights of the Constitution, such as freedom of speech,
assembly, and privacy; the right to counsel and due process in judicial
proceedings; and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.
The resolution highlights government policies that directly affect
students, such as the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
(SEVIS) and Special Registration (NSEERS), which increase the burden
for foreign students, and particularly students from Arab and Muslim
countries, to travel to and study in the United States. [Coalition
member x] said, “International students are a vital part of
our campus community. We feel it is important to protect the diversity
of our campus.”
The resolution calls on campus administrators, the campus library, and the campus police force to act in a way that protects the civil rights and liberties of our campus community. [Student Government member x] remarked that, “Students have historically had a critical role in social justice movements, and I am happy to see our student government continuing that trend. I encourage my fellow [Student Government] members to join me in standing up against government policy that threatens the heart of academic freedom on our campus.”
At the student government meeting, members of [your coalition], a campus organization that has actively worked on the issue, will present a petition supporting the resolution, which has been signed by [x#] of students. [You can then provide a little history on your coalition and other activities you have organized].
[The last paragraph should be short, but can include some additional information on the grassroots movement to protect our civil rights and liberties. For talking points, visit www.bordc.org]