The United Student Action Coalition - the organization behind November's student strike - released a proposal outlining future negotiations with the administration during a public meeting in the Student Union yesterday.
Following the Nov. 15 and 16 strike, members of the University of Massachusetts administration, including interim chancellor Thomas Cole Jr., met with student organizers to discuss their grievances. After several weeks of negotiations, the coalition - which includes elected representatives of the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Graduate Student Senate (GSS) - released the outline of their demands to be debated upon with the administration.
The 15-page proposal includes sections on each of the coalition's original demands, including a rollback of student fees, more transparency in diversity funding and outreach, the eradication of police presence in private areas of dormitories and the ability for students to control areas of campus that coalition leaders said belong to students.
At a Nov. 21 meeting, Chancellor Cole and USAC members Ruth Thompson, Aaron Buford and Jeff Napolitano agreed to ground rules of the negotiations. Due to his schedule, Cole will be present at every other meeting. Notes are allowed to be taken during the meetings and Thompson was designated as the contact person for the group. A 10-person committee will represent students who will work with the administration to pass a report of the agreements by Feb. 22, 2008.
Each meeting will have one topic each, though several others will be broached for later discussion and research. The proposal also reported that "before agreeing to a final report, the student representatives will convene a student-wide forum to discuss any proposals contained therein."
No agreement to the report will occur without a majority vote of the students present at the forum.
Fee Rollback
The USAC's demands include that by the 2009-2010 school year, in-state curriculum fees will be dropped from the present fee of $3,063.50 to $2,146.45. They ask that the out of state curriculum fee drop from $4,241 to $2,968.70 and that the administration re-evaluate spending priorities to focus on reducing student fees.
Section F of the plan calls for a reimbursement of any fee increase passed by the University's Board of Trustees, and H calls for the creation of a "Spring Lobby Day" on which students are expected to be able to miss class with no repercussions to lobby the Massachusetts state house to "advocate for increased funding for public higher education."
The report asks that the University fund the lobby day, which includes monies allocated toward bus transportation, 300 lunches and coffee and donuts for 300, totaling $8,070.
First generation and low-income students will also benefit from the coalition's proposal as it demands for the expansion of the Community Scholars Program that awards first generation college students. An increase in funds from $1.15 million to $4.6 million in fiscal year 2010 will increase the program's capacity to provide last-dollar, need-based financial aid, according to the report.
Diversity Dollars
According to the report, the University currently does not have self-initiated outreach programs to recruit underrepresented students. The group cites "Indeed Engines of Inequality" a report from the Education Trust in its argument for increased attention on recruiting minority students. The report gave UMass an "F" for underrepresented minority access.
The report includes actions aimed at developing relationships with neighboring Springfield, Holyoke and areas of Franklin County. The coalition demands eight minivans for "college access activities," expanded bus routes between Franklin County and the five-college system and funds to establish college awareness and preparation programs for local youth. Access to athletics resources is also requested for community groups.
Section B calls for more funds to be allocated to Student Success Centers, including, but not limited to, the Everywomen's Center, the Stonewall Center, Disability Services and ALANA programs.
A "pipeline project" is also proposed and aimed to involve institutions of high education from neighboring areas in an effort to recruit more graduate students.
The efforts, according to the report, "revitalize the community with much-needed professional help in economic revitalization, city planning, education, public health and other services."
Police and Privacy
After allegations of the University of Massachusetts Police Department (UMPD) plainclothes officers performing illegal searches of student rooms by posing as students, the coalition called for the overseeing of the department to shift from the student affairs department to the finance department.
The report reads, "Instead of protecting us, the campus police create a culture of fear and confrontation. Hundreds of our peers are losing financial aid and being suspended for minor offenses without due process."
The shift, the report reads, will help to ensure that the department is accountable to the entirety of the campus community. The report cites a finding from the Commission on Campus Diversity that reads other heads of higher education institutions found the placement of the department as odd.
The report also demands the administration work with elected members of the SGA and GSS to create a Community Advisory Board that will oversee the UMPD. Demands include a policy restricting access to dormitory hallways to residents and their guests only.
A simplification of the appeals process and a more basic complaints process is also alluded to.
Deputy Chief of Police Patrick Archbald said in a previous Massachusetts Daily Collegian article that the searches have not been occurring and that officers must establish probable cause and attain a warrant before entering a student's room.
He added that officers only enter private areas of dormitories when responding to calls from within the building.
Student Control of Space
The coalition made demands for the reversal of generation-specific living arrangements, saying the freshmen-only dorms limit diversity, access to special living arrangements such as legacy floors and 2-in-20 arrangements for gay, lesbian and transsexual students and is said to destroy the community traits that residential areas have acquired throughout their existence. It is also said to force out upperclassmen who require on-campus living as part of their financial aid packages.
The report also calls for the Campus Center and Student Union to be run by the Campus Center/Student Union Commission. The supervision will include "long-term space allocation, usage of the buildings for events, activities, etc."
Will McGuinness can be reached at wmcguinn@gmail.com.
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