Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1972 [PAGE 52]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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for new projects or nonrecurring capital expenditures in excess of $12,500 shall be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval. A copy of the budget is being filed with the Secretary of the Board of Trustees for record. O n m o t i o n of M r . S t e g e r , this b u d g e t w a s a p p r o v e d a n d a u t h o r i t y was given as recommended. STATEMENT OF BOARD O F TRUSTEES CONCERNING DISRUPTIVE AND COERCIVE ACTION (3) T h e President of the Board asked Mr. Swain, Chairman of the General Policy Committee, to read the following statement: In light of the University's experience in the area of student conduct and discipline over the past two years it appears desirable to clarify and restate certain guiding principles. The Trustees take this occasion to reaffirm their September 18, 1968, statement: "In view of previous actions of the Trustees and the University administration, there can be no uncertainty, within the University community or outside of it, that the Board of Trustees considers acts of violence, disruption, and interference with the rights of others to be wholly antagonistic to the spirit and purpose of the University of Illinois. Such actions constitute unacceptable behavior on the part of any University student or member of the faculty and staff. It is equally true that the principle of due process and the maintenance of procedures guaranteeing equitable treatment for all who are charged with such behavior are constitutional precepts by which this University must continue to be operated. "The Trustees do not expect on the one hand that illegal acts will be tolerated; neither on the other hand do they expect that those who are accused of such acts will receive capricious judgment." T h e Trustees call upon all members of the academic community to join with them in a concerted effort to preserve the University from those who are committed to or are willing to participate in its disruption. At its January IS, 1969, meeting, the Board approved the following statement, previously adopted by the Urbana-Champaign Senate Committee on Student Discipline: "When, through the disciplinary process, a student is found to have knowingly engaged in a disruptive or coercive action, including knowing participation in a disruptive or coercive demonstration, the penalty will be dismissal or, upon a finding that substantial mitigating circumstances exist, suspended dismissal. A demonstration is disruptive or coercive if it substantially impedes University operations, substantially interferes with the rights of others, or takes place on premises or at times where students are not authorized to be. There is no requirement that University authorities specifically order students to cease participation in a disruptive or coercive demonstration." T o provide further clarification of the University's expectations from its students, and to further define conduct which the Trustees view as constituting the "disruptive or coercive action" described in the January 1969 statement, the following interpretations, to be designated as "Rules of Conduct Applicable to All Students Concerning Disruptive or Coercive Action," are effective immediately: A student enrolling in the University of Illinois assumes an obligation to conduct himself in a manner compatible with the University's function as an educational institution and suitable to a member of an academic community. Conduct for which students are subject to discipline or explusion includes, without limitation, knowingly engaging in a disruptive or coercive action. Disruptive or coercive action includes the following: 1. Participation in a disruptive or coercive demonstration. A demonstration is disruptive or coercive if it substantially impedes University operations, or substantially interferes with the rights of others, or takes place on premises or at times where students are not authorized to he. There is no requirement that University authorities order students to cease participation in a disruptive or coercive demonstration. 2. The use of force or violence, actual or threatened, to wilfully deny, impede, obstruct, impair or interfere with