Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1970 [PAGE 291]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1969]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

291

2. Those adjudged by the University's judicial system to be guilty of acts of such a nature that the only penalty meted out was a reprimand and against whom no other substantial evidence exists. We recommend that University authorities use their good offices to secure withdrawal of criminal charges against these students. On February 10, 1969, the Urbana Senate concurred in the recommendations. Statement from President David D. Henry At the recommendation of the Chancellor and the President, on January 15, 1969, the Board of Trustees endorsed the action of the Urbana Senate Committee on Student Discipline in clarifying the severe consequences for participation in an incident of mass coercion or disruption. In the future, there can be no confusion, even on the part of entering students, that these mass incidents are serious events which will normally result in the dismissal of students, absent mitigating circumstances, in which case suspended dismissal is to be the alternate sanction. In the meantime, civil actions against those arrested last September have been pending, and in this connection the Urbana Senate Council has made recommendations, in which the Urbana Senate has concurred. I now transmit these recommendations to you. With respect to them, the Chancellor and I jointly make the following comment: The charges before the court are for violations of law. The charges before the University disciplinary system in the cases in question were for violations of University regulations. We do not believe that actions of the University in disciplinary matters should be used as the sole basis for prejudging the possible results of civil cases where the issues, procedures, and standards of proof are substantially different. We are of the view that there should be vigorous prosecution of all of those persons whom the evidence indicates bear material responsibility for the incidents of September 9-10. We further believe that the interests of justice and fairness will be served by a full exchange of information and views between the Chancellor and the State's Attorney of Champaign County on the subject of the degree of involvement of the persons arrested. The State's Attorney has indicated that he would welcome such interchange and has expressed his willingness to work with the University in the sorting-out process in order to expedite the ultimate disposition of the cases. Accordingly, we believe that it is in order for such discussions to proceed. It is recognized that as a result of these procedures, pending charges may be increased, diminished, or dismissed. T h e President stated that it was his intention to pursue administratively the course indicated unless the Board of Trustees should give him some other direction. T h e r e being no contrary action, the report w a s received with that understanding.

VANDALISM LIBRARY AT URBANA

The President and the Chancellor reported on the destruction of library cards in the Urbana Library by unknown parties, indicating that a thorough and complete investigation was underway and further reports would be forthcoming.

VISITATION UNDERGRADUATE HOUSING UNITS, URBANA

This subject was placed on the agenda at the request of Mr. Swain. The visitation program, being conducted during the spring semester on a trial basis, had been implemented administratively, and the Trustees had been informally advised of it but no action had been requested by the Trustees or administrative officers. Mr. Swain expressed concern at the volume of correspondence he had received in which opposition to the program was expressed. He