Spring Break
Sham student organization tests campus freedoms
Ahmad Safi
Issue date: 10/24/05 Section: News
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Senator Damon Jensen said the group was "discriminatory" to the military. Senator Greg Roberts said approving SACAM might possibly pave way for a Knights of the Aryan Race chapter to open on campus.
Other senators argued SACAM was tantamount to starting a student group that opposed homosexuals.
Dissenting opinions came from student representatives such as SGA President Marcus Leach.
"It's not the role of the senate to make content calls and say 'yes' or 'no' to student organizations coming into fruition," said Leach. "[But] certain senators thought punishment before the crime is committed was the best course of action."
Leach contended if the SACAM conversation belonged anywhere in students' hands, it should be through the UMKC Student Superior Court, not the senate.
After delaying a vote on the organization for a month, senators decided to indefinitely table the fate of SACAM until a formal review by University of Missouri Legal Council was complete.
"And we're all aware that rights delayed are rights denied," said Leach.
After the senate ruled, Case immediately appealed to administrators.
"The administration agreed the senate's actions were not constitutional, but [they] were unwilling to take immediate action to right the senate's wrong," he said.
Case speculates the refusal to correct the senate was tied to fear of political backlash and the level of administration the SACAM decision reached.
He does, however, believe the experiment in student freedom has brought to light key inconsistencies and limitations within the University.
"For one, our student senate is a non-representative body and they are willing to put political ideologies ahead of students," Case said. "And our administration is slow to act because they are worried about their jobs and appearances."
He also believes the SACAM episode will in the future assist controversial student organizations seeking recognition by the University.
asafi@unews.com
Other senators argued SACAM was tantamount to starting a student group that opposed homosexuals.
Dissenting opinions came from student representatives such as SGA President Marcus Leach.
"It's not the role of the senate to make content calls and say 'yes' or 'no' to student organizations coming into fruition," said Leach. "[But] certain senators thought punishment before the crime is committed was the best course of action."
Leach contended if the SACAM conversation belonged anywhere in students' hands, it should be through the UMKC Student Superior Court, not the senate.
After delaying a vote on the organization for a month, senators decided to indefinitely table the fate of SACAM until a formal review by University of Missouri Legal Council was complete.
"And we're all aware that rights delayed are rights denied," said Leach.
After the senate ruled, Case immediately appealed to administrators.
"The administration agreed the senate's actions were not constitutional, but [they] were unwilling to take immediate action to right the senate's wrong," he said.
Case speculates the refusal to correct the senate was tied to fear of political backlash and the level of administration the SACAM decision reached.
He does, however, believe the experiment in student freedom has brought to light key inconsistencies and limitations within the University.
"For one, our student senate is a non-representative body and they are willing to put political ideologies ahead of students," Case said. "And our administration is slow to act because they are worried about their jobs and appearances."
He also believes the SACAM episode will in the future assist controversial student organizations seeking recognition by the University.
asafi@unews.com
