Conduct code bill likely to be defeated by default

Kayla Webley
2005-03-02
The Daily

The student conduct code bill, which would require the UW administration to regulate students' off-campus actions, was defeated for the second consecutive year in the Washington State Legislature yesterday.

The Legislature's Higher Education Committee heard testimony on House Bill 2123 from numerous lobbyists and advocates before deciding to address the UW's concerns and reevaluate the bill at a later date.

As a result, the bill will not meet the 5 p.m. deadline today, all bill in committee must meet in order to not be killed.

If passed, the bill would have required the UW to adopt rules about students' "disruptive" off-campus conduct and take actions including counseling, probation, suspension or expulsion.

"This bill is unnecessary in light of the many steps we have taken in the last year," said Ernest Morris, the UW vice president for student affairs.

In testimony before the committee, Morris cited the UW's implementation of an incident prevention team and the "Hold it Down" packet on how to be a good neighbor, which was distributed to 6,400 students living off campus.

According to Morris, the UW has specific problems with the bill due to the vague language used to describe the policy.

The bill defines "off-campus" as neighborhoods, businesses and public places that are "proximate" to the UW campus. The definition is insufficient in an urban college setting because the administration would not know what to consider as "proximate" to campus, Morris said.

Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, said he sponsored the bill because of complaints he has heard from his constituents, including UW students and faculty, about noise, underage drinking and property damage in the area.

"There is a small number of students who have a negative impact on residents who live surrounding the University," said Murray.

Testimony in favor of the bill was provided by UW professor emeritus Earl Bell, a former president of the University Park Community Club. Bell said he saw the implementation of the bill as "an alternative to a criminal conviction."

UW student lobbyist Jamie Corning testified against the bill, calling it a "double jeopardy," that would punish students twice for the same crime.

The majority of the problem is not created by UW students, but by non-students who live in the area, Corning said. The bill would shift the burden of others onto UW students, he argued.

"Why punish students on campus for something that they will be punished for under state law?" Corning asked. "What impact is this really going to have on the problem?"

Evan Roberts, sophomore Interfraternity Council senator, said he sees the bill as a veiled attack on the Greek community. According to Roberts, the bill is something every student should oppose.

"[The bill] is an additional slap in the face to those ... who have already had to put up with additional law enforcement," said Roberts. "Much of this is targeted at the Greek system and those living north of campus."