Resolution #11-13 Author: Paul Yacisin Sponsors: Stacey Godfrey, John McCormick, Ben Salt
SGA disapproval of new UGA Policies for Summary Dismissal and Interim Suspension of Student Organizations
THE STUDENT BODY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA THROUGH ITS ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION DOES HEREBY RESOLVE:
Whereas, the President of the University of Georgia has approved a new Summary
 Dismissal Policy that grants authority to the Director of Judicial Programs,
 "or designee," to "impose a summary dismissal if a student is charged with
 or indicted for a felony or crime involving moral turpitude" or if there is
 "substantial information" of same.
 Whereas, the new Summary Dismissal Policy also includes a summary dismissal for
 "other acts, or engaged in a pattern of behavior significantly detrimental to
 the University community or behavior which indicates a significant threat
 of harm to the University community."
 Whereas, there is no right of appeal to contest such charges on the evidence, but
 only on the status of the charges or on the status of the "substantial
 information."
 Whereas, the suspension takes place immediately upon notification of the decision
 by the Director of Judicial Programs, and thus before the filing of an
 appeal.
 Whereas, the President of the University has also approved a new Policy on Interim
 Suspension of Student Organizations that grants authority to the Associate
 Vice President for Student Affairs to interim suspend a student
 organization for "alleged violations of University Regulations," for
 "continued activity of the organization [that] could lead to further


Whereas, no hearing or Student Judiciary proceeding takes place under the Summary
 Dismissal Policy before the summary dismissal of a student and as "a
 hearing is not required" under the Policy on Interim Suspension of
 Student Organizations.
 Whereas, the language of both of the above mentioned policies are overly
 broad and vague.
 Whereas, no officials of the Student Government Association, nor officers of any
 student organization were consulted or informed of the above policies
 before submission for approval for the President of the University.
 Whereas, the above policies do not observe the Constitutional principles of the
 presumption of innocence and due process and as such violate the civil
 rights of students and student organizations.
 SGA (11-13)
 BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
 The Student Government Association of the University of Georgia on behalf of the
 student body requests that the President of the University suspend implementation of the
 Summary Dismissal Policy and the Policy on Interim Suspension of Student
 Organizations until they can be revised.

 Be it further resolved that the Student Government Association requests that the Summary Dismissal Policy be revised to allow an emergency Student Judiciary hearing before a Summary Dismissal can be implemented and that the hearing allow the charges themselves or "substantial information" thereof to be contested, as well as the status of those charges or "substantial information" thereof.

 Be it further resolved that the Student Government Association requests that the Policy on Interim Suspension of Student Organizations be revised to require a hearing before the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs interim suspend a student organization.

 Be it further resolved that the Student Government Association requests that the language of the Summary Dismissal Policy and the Policy on Interim Suspension of Student Organizations be rewritten for greater specificity of the grounds for suspension.

 Be it further resolved that the Student Government Association requests that the relevant officials of the University Administration consult with representatives from the Student Government Association and other student organizations while revising the Summary Dismissal Policy and the Policy on Interim Suspension of Student Organizations.
 AMENDMENT #1 TO RESOLUTION #11-13:
(To be inserted between Be It Resolved Paragraph #2 and #3) Be it further resolved that the Student Government Association requests that the Summary Dismissal Policy be revised to allow the charges themselves or the "substantial information" thereof to also be contested before the appeal review panel convened by the Vice President for Student Affairs.

 AMENDMENT #2 TO RESOLUTION #11-13:
(To be inserted between Be It Resolved Paragraph #3 and #4) Be it further resolved that the Student Government Association requests that the Policy on Interim Suspension of Student Organizations be revised to establish a maximum limit of one year on the interim suspension of a student organization.

In recognition of the University's responsibility to protect the physical safety, health, and welfare of members of the University community, the University has established a summary dismissal policy. The purpose of this policy is to provide for the immediate removal of a student from the University environment if certain conditions are present.

 The Director of Judicial Programs, or designee, shall have the authority to impose a summary dismissal if a student is charged with or indicted for a felony or crime involving moral turpitude or if there is substantial information that:








The Director of Judicial Programs or designee may consult with whomever he or she deems appropriate prior to making a decision to implement the summary dismissal, including the student, law enforcement personnel, academic personnel, medical or mental health professionals, or parent(s). if the Director or designee deems it necessary to implement the summary dismissal, the student shall be notified in writing of the decision. The summary dismissal begins once written notice is given to the student.

 A student may request that the Director of Judicial Programs review the decision for summary dismissal. A student must put the request in writing and submit it to the Director who will have 10 business days to respond. This decision of the Director may be appealed to the Vice President for Student Affairs. The Vice President for Student Affairs will convene a panel composed of (3) three members of the Student Incident Response Panel to review the appeal and provide a recommendation to the Vice President for Student Affairs. The responsibility of the panel is to consider whether the summary dismissal was based on one of the four grounds. The student will be afforded the opportunity to present the appeal to the panel and may present witnesses or evidence on his or her behalf. The student may choose to personally present the appeal or have a representative make the presentation. Given that this is an appeal, the student will present first, followed by the response of the Director of Judicial Programs.

 The panel will make a written recommendation to the Vice President for Student Affairs who will issue a decision to the student in writing. Given the nature of these cases, the summary dismissal shall stay in effect unless removed by the Director of Judicial Programs, or designee, or overturned on appeal.

 Should the Vice President for Student Affairs uphold the summary dismissal, the student has the right to file an appeal in accordance with the procedures in Board of Regents Policy 407.01.

Any or all of the activities of a student organization may be temporarily suspended while the organization is under investigation or engaged in the disciplinary hearing process for alleged violations of University Regulations.

 Student organizations are subject to interim suspension under one or more of the following conditions:









The Director of Judicial Programs and/or the Director of Student Activities may recommend to the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs that a student organization should receive an interim suspension. The Associate Vice President may consult with whomever he or she deems appropriate prior to making a decision to implement an interim suspension, but a hearing is not required. If the Associate Vice President deems it necessary to implement an interim suspension, the organization shall be notified in writing of the decision and the organization's right to appeal the decision to the Vice President for Student Affairs.

 The decision of the Associate Vice President may be appealed by the student organization to the Vice President for Student Affairs. The grounds for the appeal must show that the Associate Vice President's decision does not conform with this policy. The decision of the Associate Vice President shall remain in effect during the appeal. The Vice President for Student Affairs will issue a decision to the student organization in writing.

 The interim suspension of a student organization shall continue until one of the following occurs: