Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1956 [PAGE 335]

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332

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[April 27

Be it resolved: That the University of Illinois Student Senate favor the use of University buildings, grounds, and facilities by or on behalf of candidates for nomination or election to state or national offices; and Be it further resolved: That the University of Illinois Student Senate urges the President of the University of Illinois to present for acceptance the above principle and the following plan to the Board of Trustees: 1. An appropriate University committee with Student members be authorized to administer the political speaker policy of the University. 2. The speaker shall meet the following conditions: a. The speaker shall be a member of a recognized political party having legal status in the State of Illinois. b. The speaker shall be sponsored by a student, faculty, or administration group. However, in the event the aforementioned groups do not choose to do so, the opportunity for sponsoring shall remain open to the official state party organization of the proposed speaker. c. Campaigning speakers shall be seeking state or national office. d. Equal opportunities must be available to all political parties using University facilities. Senate Bill 1304 was passed. I recommend that the Board of Trustees rescind the present policy, established in 1890, "that hereafter the University buildings and grounds be not used for political purposes," and adopt in lieu thereof the following policy: The use of University buildings, grounds, and facilities by or on behalf of candidates for nomination or election to state or national offices is authorized, subject to the following regulations: 1. T h e speaker shall be a member of a political party having legal status in the state of Illinois. 2. The speaker shall be sponsored by a recognized student organization, a faculty group, a department of the University, or by the official organization of his political party. 3. The President of the University is authorized to promulgate such regulations as he deems necessary for the administration of this policy including assignment of responsibilities for the same to committees or agencies of the University. H e may appoint a general, representative all-University committee to administer this policy in acting upon requests from other than student organizations. Requests from student organizations shall first be subject to approval by the Senate Committee on Student Affairs consistent with the present responsibilities of that Committee in supervising the use of University facilities for events sponsored by student organizations. 4. Any organization sponsoring such addresses shall be charged rental for use of buildings and premises sufficient to cover the cost of such use. 5. For the guidance of University officials administering these regulations, state office is denned to include: the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Auditor of Public Accounts, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Justices and Clerk of the Supreme Court, and members of the Board of Trustees of the University. National office shall include the President and Vice-President of the United States and both houses of Congress. Mr. Stanford Glass, President, and other representatives of the Student Senate appeared before the Board and presented the case for the Student Senate's resolution, Mr. Glass serving as spokesman for the group. President Megran responded for the Board stating that its decision must be based upon considerations of what is for the best interests of the University and that it must maintain political immunity. H e expressed the hope for unanimity in whatever decision is reached by the Trustees and the opinion that at present the Board is not prepared to reach a decision. President Morey reviewed the study he has given this matter. H e first secured the advice of the Executive Committee of the University Council and later the independent judgment of members of the faculties of the College of Law and the