Residency Policy E-Petition

If you couldn’t make the protest in Usdan today but wish to protest the University’s revisions to its residency policy, you may sign the petition online here. (Do not sign this if you already signed the paper petition today.) Full petition text after the jump. If you have photo or video of today’s protest, send to staff(at)wesleying(dot)org and we’ll post it.

We, the undersigned, protest the new revisions to the housing policy. This policy is a sweeping, massive overreach that heavily infringes on the personal freedoms and responsibilities of all students. The implication of this policy is that it dismisses the agency of all students, making decisions for us on where we can and cannot freely associate. This new policy goes against the principles of this institution. This is just not some vague ideal; it is University policy. We refer you to the joint statement on the rights and freedoms of students, Section 5, part A. In full, it reads: V. Off-Campus Freedom of Students A. A. Exercise of Rights of Citizenship College and university students are both citizens and members of the academic community. As citizens, students should enjoy the same freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and the right of petition that other citizens enjoy and, as members of the academic community, they are subject to the obligations that accrue to them by virtue of this membership. Faculty members and administrative officials should ensure that institutional powers are not employed to inhibit such intellectual and personal development of students as is often promoted by their exercise of the rights of citizenship both on and off campus. This is the new policy that we protest: Wesleyan students are prohibited from using houses or property owned, leased or operated by private societies that are not recognized by the University. This prohibition includes using such houses or property as residences, taking meals at such houses or property and participating in social activities at such houses or property The new policy flies in the face of the principles of this University and every member of its community. In a hasty attempt to punish one group of students, the Administration has insulted us all. We hereby demand that this new revision to the Residency Policy be retracted immediately.

We, the undersigned, protest the new revisions to the housing policy. This policy is a sweeping, massive overreach that heavily infringes on the personal freedoms and responsibilities of all students. The implication of this policy is that it dismisses the agency of all students, making decisions for us on where we can and cannot freely associate. This new policy goes against the principles of this institution. This is just not some vague ideal; it is University policy. We refer you to the joint statement on the rights and freedoms of students, Section 5, part A. In full, it reads: V. Off-Campus Freedom of Students A. A. Exercise of Rights of Citizenship College and university students are both citizens and members of the academic community. As citizens, students should enjoy the same freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and the right of petition that other citizens enjoy and, as members of the academic community, they are subject to the obligations that accrue to them by virtue of this membership. Faculty members and administrative officials should ensure that institutional powers are not employed to inhibit such intellectual and personal development of students as is often promoted by their exercise of the rights of citizenship both on and off campus. This is the new policy that we protest: Wesleyan students are prohibited from using houses or property owned, leased or operated by private societies that are not recognized by the University. This prohibition includes using such houses or property as residences, taking meals at such houses or property and participating in social activities at such houses or property The new policy flies in the face of the principles of this University and every member of its community. In a hasty attempt to punish one group of students, the Administration has insulted us all. We hereby demand that this new revision to the Residency Policy be retracted immediately.