The Student Association Senate approved legislation challenging the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s move to broaden punishment for poor or destructive behavior off-campus at a meeting Sunday night.

The legislation challenges Chapter 17, which outlines student nonacademic disciplinary action when caught on school grounds. These behaviors include breaking any state or federal laws, destroying of property, interfering with campus activities or threatening the personal safety of the community.

Punishment for such behavior can vary from a reprimand to expulsion.

UWM’s administration has received pressure from the neighborhood to extend the scope of Chapter 17 to punish students’ behavior off-campus in hopes of deterring such actions.

SA members said students should not be punished outside the academic setting, and if Chapter 17 is extended, it could violate double jeopardy laws. SA members are also worried that the broad definition of Chapter 17 will be unfair to the students because students need only three violations to constitute disciplinary action.

SA Vice President Jon Tingley said students will respect the community.

“We are not condoning poor behavior,” he said. “However, Chapter 17 will go too far in student’s rights.”

In other legislative moves, changes to the Senate Finance Committee Bylaws were approved. The bylaws add a senator from College of Letters & Science and reduced the number of senators from the smaller colleges (School of Architecture and Urban Planning) from four down to two. There will now be two at-large senators represented in the Senate, up from one previously.

The Senate also voted on committee appointments.

Robert Stueber and Robert Henry Grover were appointed to the Union Policy Board. The Union Policy Board sets rules for the Union, such as when dining services are available or passing legislation like the smoking ban.

Casey Glader, Brandon Decker, Margaret Mooney and Nikki Pfeifer were approved for the Senate Oversight and Rules Committee.

Amanda Ruppenthal and Adam Lofquist were approved for the Shared Governance Committee.

In other action:

• On Thursday, Sept. 14, the public hearing for the off-campus parking begins at 9 a.m. Be On the Safe Side vans will provide transportation during the day.
• SA is co-sponsoring the Blood Drive with the Center of Volunteerism on Sept. 20.

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