Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
Posted November 4, 2011on:
Five years ago I was entering my freshman year of high school. The Student Government Association at UMass Lowell however, was starting the beginning stages of what would eventually become the Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. Over those five years, various chairpersons of the Governance Committee collaborated with the administration of the school to create a document that was pleasing to the students and the faculty. The document would go through various changes before making our first big stride last year. And over the summer, the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities would get the support from the Provost office, Dean of Students office, and the Chancellors office.
The Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities was created to remind students that they have a certain set of liberties guaranteed on campus. Everything contained inside of the four page document can be found elsewhere on campus. The problem was it was spread throughout thousands of pages of documents. So, the Student Government Association set out to create a clear and understandable document that could have real life use. These rights are as simple as having a campus without discrimination, or as complex as having an open financial process. But at the same time, it is important to remember that faculty and administrators have a certain set of rights. The Bill of Rights and Responsibilities outlines that to receive respect, we must return it equally.
This document is an important first for not only our campus, but for every UMass campus. It is the first of its kind guaranteeing students the ability to enjoy their time at UMass Lowell without having to worry about unfairness or discrimination. To see it for yourself, visit the Student Activities Office on South Campus on the second floor of the McGauvran Student Center. If you would like more information, feel free to e-mail the Governance Committee at SGAGovernance@student.uml.edu.