Opinion
Administration abusing power with suspensions
Bill Oram | April 29, 2008
Montana Kaimin
Web update 4/29
Any notion that the University of Montana administration respected student protesters was unceremoniously quashed Tuesday.
One by one, eight members of Students for Economic and Social Justice entered the office of the Dean of Students, and individually they came out, slapped with three-day suspensions from the University, and were required to write letters of apology to President George Dennison and his office staff.
The eight students were part of a sit-in of Dennison’s office April 16, when he was visiting China. The group’s aim was to persuade UM officials to sign on with the Designated Suppliers Program, which would regulate which companies could sell clothing to universities.
Dean Charles Couture closed the disciplinary meetings to the public, calling them his “investigations,” as if there were any information yet to be disclosed. However, that shouldn’t take away from the fact the suspensions are an extreme abuse of power by a vindictive bully.
It’s hard to say who ultimately handed down the punishments, whether they were truly up to Couture or whether he was simply Dennison’s marionette. What is clear is that suspending students who peacefully engaged in protest is unjust.
Officials need to show the restraint to suspend students only in the most extreme cases.
The protesters sat peacefully in Dennison’s office. They did not hurt anyone, nor did they put anyone in danger. They did not harm any property, nor did they threaten to.
What they did was illegal, and the legal system will dole out proper punishment. There is no reason for the University to take it further.
The greater good is not served by keeping these students off campus. SESJ has shown no history of posing a threat to the campus population; banning them from University grounds shows only bitterness to being challenged by students.
The letter of apology, too, amounts to little more than a waste of time. They aren’t sorry. Why add lying to the litany of transgressions?
All punishment in this matter should be handled by the legal system, not by administrators overzealously trying to prove a point.
The purpose of prosecution is to seek fair punishment for crimes, not to establish a starting point for further discipline.
Couture needs to let the courts do their job, and go back to doing his.
He should have left these kids alone.
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Comments
Does anyone remember what the purpose of this sit-in was?
Nope. Not even discussed anymore. Because the protestors took the focus of the protest away from the cause and directed it toward the tactics. The protestors were willing and ready to make themselves the story.
And now there are consequences.
Oh and you can pretty much kiss your little sweatshop agreement goodbye. Doesn’t sound like anybody really cares what you say anymore, SESJ, now that you’ve chosen to take the baby protest move.
Real classy, babies.
Posted by Fred Stapleton on 04/29/2008 at 8:06 pm
"Doesn’t sound like anybody really cares what you say anymore”
Indeed....but the whole world sits on the edge of their seats waiting for the next decree issued forth by Mr. Stapleton, the foremost authority and final word in....something.....with a PhD in.....something.
Posted by Charles Copeland on 04/29/2008 at 8:46 pm
Thanks Charles, go ahead and blame me for SESJ’s overwhelming failure to accomplish jack squat with their publicity stunt protest.
All the insults you want, buddy. Because that’s sure going to change Dennison’s mind.
What IS IT with you people?! JESUS!
Posted by Fred Stapleton on 04/30/2008 at 2:50 am
Fred is right.
Posted by Jake Waters on 04/30/2008 at 9:16 am
Fred- you have no room to criticize me for making insults. Now if you don’t mind my asking, what exactly is it that you do when you’re not trashing SESJ and other such activists on this site?
Posted by Charles Copeland on 04/30/2008 at 11:00 am
And so it’s said and known: I don’t blame you for anything Fred. As far as I know you hold no position with the university or any student organization. I blame dollar-sign Denny and Bob Duringer.
Posted by Charles Copeland on 04/30/2008 at 11:07 am
there might be freedom of speech in this country however; It is required that those who wish to demonstrate get permits and do not obstruct the learning or administration of the university. I heard about this protest in Illinois and the students there are laughing at the immaturity level of those who performed this sit-in. Sure they might not of hurt anything but those who performed this temper tantrum went about it the wrong way due to lack of planning. As far as the Press not being allowed in the room where the punishments were handed down, Kudos the the Administration. This allowed for them to talk to the students in private and address each student individually. You wouldn’t want the press in your office at work when your boss reprimanded you for being foolish would you?
Posted by Russell Homan on 05/01/2008 at 4:01 am
Bill Oram, you need to understand that the students broke the Student Code therefor the University has a right and an obligation to review the case and if necessary dole out punishment. If a student assaults another student on campus is it not in the best interest of the University to place sanctions on that student at the university level as well as the police to prosecute? I know that comparing this incident to an assult is not equal but as far as the student conduct code is concerned they are both infractions and should both be treated as such.
Posted by Russell Homan on 05/01/2008 at 4:08 am
