1.     STUDENT MEDIA POLICY

Preamble:

This document refers to all student communications media, newspaper, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, cable TV systems, etc., which are funded, in whole or in part, by student activity fees at Governors State University. It is the intent of this policy to preserve the freedom of the press for such communication media, while at the same time ensuring that they are responsible to the community they serve.

I. Student Communications Media Board (SCMB)

The SCMB will serve as the publisher for those student communications media which are funded, in whole or in part, by student activity fees. The SCMB will be responsible to the director of Student Life.

A. Purpose: It is the purpose of the SCMB to encourage the development and recognition of qualified student media, including publications, radio, and television; to ensure continuity of, and responsible leadership for, recognized student media; to review elements of media performance toward maintaining the highest quality of student media; and to ensure fiscal responsibility and sound management.

B. Specific Functions:

1.     Approve all student communications media.

2.     Approve budget(s) and expenditures of student activity fees by the various student media.

3.     Appoint for the period of one year, the head of each student medium staff.

4.     Approve the staff recommended by the head of each student medium. These recommendations will be made on the basis of interviews of interested students. All staff must be currently enrolled students. The staff will determine content and format of their respective publications without censorship or advance approval.

5.     Hear concerns from members of the university community pertaining to alleged violations of acceptable journalistic standards and practices.

6.     Hear recommendations for suspension or dismissal of staff and/or withdrawal of funds from a medium/(media) for either a violation of law, repeated publication of materials judged libelous, fiscal mismanagement, or substantial deviation from a medium's/(media's) original proposal, SCMB policy or professional ethics. The SCMB will act on such recommendations only after the student(s) and/or medium/(media) involved are accorded due process.

C. Membership: The SCMB will be composed of seven voting members, appointed by the Student Senate as follows: four (4) currently enrolled students, appointed for one-year terms, to (2) faculty members, from different colleges; and one (1) civil service or support unit employee of the university. The following will serve on the board as ex-officio members: A member of the Student Life staff appointed by the director; the appointed head, and the advisor of each student medium/(media). The chairperson of the SCMB must be a student elected for the membership. Students employed by the student media governed by the SCMB shall not be eligible to serve on the SCMB (except as noted above).

D. Meetings: The SCMB will meet at least once during each month of the fall and winter trimesters and as needed during Spring/Summer trimester. At least four members must be present to conduct business. Minutes must be kept for all meetings.

II. Proposals for New Student Media

A. Proposal content: The SCMB shall encourage the development of student media by providing an orderly and equitable review of proposals for recognition. All proposals, initial and renewed, will include by-laws and a proposed budget for the first year of operation, as well as a statement detailing the following: purpose, audience; general statement of staff development.

B. Proposal review: Upon receipt of a proposal the SCMB will meet to consider that proposal within 30 calendar days.

C. Proposal recommendations: A majority vote of the total membership of SCMB is required for recognition by the board. If the proposal is rejected, the board must state its reasons(s) for rejection in writing. The applicant may appeal the SCMB's decision to the director of Student Life.

D. Proposal recommendations: The SCMB may recommend:

7.     Full recognition - an appointment of a permanent media head must be completed within six months after recognition; or

8.     Temporary recognition - for a maximum of four months a temporary media head must be appointed, immediately; or

9.     Rejection - the board must state the reason(s) for rejection in writing.

III. Financing of Student Publications

A. Funds from student activity fees may be used to support student media. Such funds may be budgeted by the Student Life Budget Board upon recommendation of the SCMB.

B. Funds derived from other sources, including advertising, may be considered part of the budget for each publication. A full accounting of such income must be made available to the SCMB on a regular basis.

IV. Appointment Process for Student Media Heads

The Student Communication Media Board will appoint or reappoint Student Media Heads based on the following guidelines:

A. Each Media Head will be selected based on demonstration of the following skill areas:

10. Budgetary - Demonstrate effective management of the organization budget within fiscal constraints and guidelines.

11. Supervisory - Demonstrate ability to manage the staff needed to run the particular media in question effectively.

12. Editorial or media related - Demonstrate ability to produce appropriate community level media skills.

13. Interpersonal - Demonstrate ability to deal effectively with all constituents.

14. Initiative - Demonstrate ability to develop an effective plan, problem solve, and develop appropriate responses to encountered situations.

15. Organizational - Demonstrate ability to plan, develop and implement all appropriate policies, procedures and activities necessary for the organization.

16. Staff Development - Demonstrate ability to design and implement an appropriate training and development program for the staff of the media.

B. The Standing Review Committee's charge will be to seek input on the candidates for media head and recommend one to three candidates to the full Student Communication Media Board at its April meeting or the next most appropriate meeting.

C. A Standing Review Committee, composed of the following members, will be established by appointment of the Student Communication Media Board:

17. Chairperson of SCMB

18. Proposed media advisor

19. Student Life staff-appointed member

20. One other student media appointment by the board

21. Two board members appointed by the board

a.      one student member

b.     one non-student member

D. Approval Process - The SCMB can act only on the recommendations forwarded from the Standing Review Committee. A majority vote of the (total voting) membership of the SCMB is required for the appointment of student media head.

E. Appeal Process - An applicant may appeal the decision of the full committee (SCMB) to the director of Student Life. All appeals must be based on a perceived violation of process. These appeals must be forwarded to the director of Student Life within 10 days of board action.

V. Interpretation and Amendment

A. Interpretation of this Student Communications Media Policy is the prerogative of the SCMB. Appeals may be addressed to the director of Student Life.

B. Recommendations for amendment of this policy may be made by two-thirds vote of the full membership of the SCMB.

C. Rules and procedures governing individual student communication media not stipulated in this policy may be included in the by-laws of the media. These by-laws will be enforced and interpreted by the SCMB and will be binding upon the appropriate media.

CAMPUS DISTURBANCES OR DEMONSTRATIONS

In order that normal educational processes can continue without interruption and in order that individual safety, personal freedom, and property rights can be enjoyed without impairment, the board has established this policy.

1.     Unauthorized Activities

1.     Criminal Damage
Criminal damage to state property is committed by any of the acts specified in 720 ILCS 5/21-4.

2.     Criminal Trespass
Criminal trespass to state land is committed by one who enters upon the campus or a building with legal notice that entry is forbidden or who remains in an area after notice to depart.
Persons who violate established university regulations for the use of university facilities shall be notified to depart. This notification should be given publicly and orally by an authorized university representative. If such persons remain, a police officer or other authorized university representative should read applicable portions of the criminal trespass statute, 720 ILCS 5/21-5, and advise them that they are in violation of the law and may be arrested. In appropriate circumstances, court action of an injunctive or criminal nature should be sought.

3.     Interference
Interference with a public institution of higher education is committed by one who, without authority from the institution, through force or violence, actual or threatened, willfully acts as prohibited by 720 ILCS 5/21.2-2. In appropriate circumstances court action of an injunctive or criminal nature should be sought.

2.     Penalties
Persons who willfully damage state property, commit trespass on the campus, or interfere with the university's operations shall be penalized in accordance with 720 ILCS 5/21-1 et seq.
Members of a campus community who participate in unlawful activities which disrupt educational functions shall be dealt with in accordance with established disciplinary and administrative processes. Such processes may be invoked regardless of either civil or criminal actions arising out of the same event.

3.     Outside Assistance
When the president believes that unlawful activities which disrupt educational functions warrant, he/she is authorized by the board to make prompt application to those agencies provided by the state for the purpose of dealing with those who break the law.