Controversial proposed revisions to the UW System’s Chapter 17 non-academic misconduct policy will be open for discussion on Thursday, March 5 at 7p.m. in UW-Milwaukee’s Zelazo Center.

Prior to the hearing, there will be an informational session at 4pm. Students can listen to a speaker from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a national non-profit organization whose mission includes an effort to defend and sustain individual rights at America’s colleges and universities.

Representatives from the United Council of UW Students (UC) and the UWM Student Association (SA) will also be present to answer questions, take comments and hear suggestions.

After the informational session, students will have the chance to participate in a public hearing. The UW System Board of Regents, who will decide the fate of Chapter 17, will hear concerns from the audience during the hearing.

Kyle Duerstein, a UWM student who serves on the state-wide Chapter 17 review board, names four areas in Chapter 17 he sees as problematic to students’ rights.

The four areas of concern include the following:

* The University could investigate municipal violations on and off campus and punish students whether or not the violations were dismissed.

* Vague language, with no clear definitions of “substantial university interest” and “unacceptable conduct.”

* Students would not have the right to have a lawyer present during a disciplinary hearing.

* Instead of a hearing conducted by a committee with students on it, the hearing would be conducted with one administrator.

Duerstein, who serves as the SA’s Deputy Speaker of the Senate, encourages students to attend the hearing.

“It will be an intimidating environment and even if you just show up and don’t say anything that would be great,” he said. “But if we can get some students to say something focused with 300 other students behind them, it would make a big statement to the Board of Regents.”

In coming months, the UW System Board of Regents will decide whether or not proposed changes to Chapter 17 will become official university policy. If the changes are approved, UWM administration could punish students for off-campus behavior that adversely affects UWM-area residents or their property.

The maximum penalty for such offenses would be expulsion. UWM officials have publicly supported the proposed changes.