Rutgers and Palestinian Solidarity Movement meetings

["Ben Halligan" <B.Halligan@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

fw:

-----Original Message-----
From: Emmet Dennis [mailto:dennis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Subject: 3rd National Student Conference on the Palestinian Solidarity Movement 

October 22, 2003 

Dear Benjamin Halligan: 
  
Thank you for your correspondence regarding the status of an event planned by 
NJ Solidarity-Rutgers Chapter that was to have occurred Oct. 10-12 at Rutgers, 
The State University of New Jersey. 
  
Under procedures established to guide student groups through the complex 
event-planning process, we were obligated to rescind the chapter's reservation 
when the student leaders failed to meet several essential requirements within 
the standard time frame provided to them.  At all times throughout the process, 
the university worked in good faith with the students to advise them of their 
responsibilities and assist them in meeting their obligations. Details 
regarding these requirements can be found in the press release issued by the 
university on Sept. 12, which is located on the Rutgers University Web site at: 
http://ur.rutgers.edu/medrel/viewArticle.html?ArticleID=3439
  
As Rutgers President Richard L. McCormick has reiterated in messages to the 
university community, Rutgers remains committed to the principles of free 
speech, and the right of individuals and groups to express their views.  In 
dealing with NJ Solidarity-Rutgers Chapter, the university made no judgment on 
the content of the event or the organization's viewpoint.  Our policies 
regarding student-sponsored events were applied fairly and equally, as they 
must be for all groups. 
  
We have invited the group to reapply for space at a future date.  Should they 
choose to do so, they would restart the process and be expected to comply with 
the standard timetable for organizing an event of the scope they had originally 
planned.  The event-planning process was developed to allow the university to 
manage the allotment of limited space, and also to contribute to the education 
of our student leaders.
  
Yours truly, 
  
  
  
Emmet A. Dennis, Ph.D. 
Professor and Vice President for Student Affairs 

  <file:///C:/DOCUME~1/anigbogu/LOCALS~1/Temp/msoclip1/04/clip_image001.gif> 
Rutgers releases facility reservation for student conference after group fails 
to provide essential information for its event
September 12, 2003 
NEW BRUNSWICK/PISCATAWAY, N.J. - NJ Solidarity-Rutgers Chapter will not have 
use of university facilities for a conference scheduled for Oct. 10-12 after 
failing to meet criteria required of all student organizations planning 
large-scale events on campus, the university's Vice President for Student 
Affairs, Dr. Emmet Dennis, announced today. "The university worked in good 
faith with NJ Solidarity-Rutgers Chapter to advise officers of their 
responsibilities and guide them through the process in order to have a safe and 
viable event," said Dr. Dennis. "We advised them of these requirements early on 
in writing and in person, but they have not provided the information needed for 
the event to proceed." 
  
Dr. Dennis noted that members of the student group failed to schedule meetings 
with university staff to complete required plans and develop event-related 
contracts, did not provide a list of scheduled speakers and failed to provide a 
comprehensive description for its event. Students were informed of their 
responsibilities periodically throughout the process, most recently in a 
meeting late last week, he added. 
  
Information and material required but not submitted include: 
·  A list of room requirements to accommodate the conference's agenda; 
·  A parking plan and cost estimate; 
·  An event registration plan that ensures the conference is open to all 
students; 
·  A complete deposit of all money needed to cover conference expenses, 
including facility and security cost estimates; and 
·  A completed and signed co-sponsorship agreement with NJ Solidarity. 
  
In order to finalize their reservations, all student groups wishing to use 
university facilities must demonstrate their ability and commitment to hosting 
an event by providing details concerning registration procedures, their agenda 
and speakers, space requirements and other aspects of their event five weeks in 
advance. They must also submit a deposit to cover anticipated expenses 
associated with the conference, such as security and room set up in the 
facility. Student leaders of NJ Solidarity-Rutgers Chapter were informed of the 
requirements for hosting their event in a university facility in February 2003 
when they first requested space. 
  
"Despite our best efforts to work with the students to plan a successful event, 
they failed to meet our established requirements and have not been forthcoming 
with the basic information that we require of all student groups seeking to use 
university facilities," Dr. Dennis said. 
  
"We do not even have a title or a list of speakers for the conference at this 
point," he added. "The situation has been further complicated by the fact that 
the national organizations that were originally planning the conference with NJ 
Solidarity have withdrawn their participation and intend to hold their own 
conference in Ohio in November. As a result, we're unclear as to the scope or 
extent of the event being planned for the Rutgers campus." 
  
NJ Solidarity-Rutgers Chapter, a student group registered with Rutgers College, 
had originally sought to hold a conference at the Douglass College campus 
center. Last month, in response to the organization's own attendance estimates, 
which rose from 200-300 at the time of the original request to 500 in recent 
weeks, and recommendations from Rutgers' Division of Public Safety, the 
university informed NJ Solidarity-Rutgers Chapter that the Louis Brown Athletic 
Center would be held for the conference. The change of location was necessary 
so that the university could better address several potential public safety 
issues that could arise due to increased attendance as well as a heightened 
level of public interest. 
  
Among the university units working over the summer with the student 
organization to plan its event were the Office of the Vice President of Student 
Affairs; the Rutgers College Office of Student Leadership, Involvement and 
Programs; the Division of Public Safety, and the Louis Brown Athletic Center's 
operations staff. 
  
The students were informed today of the university's intention to release the 
reservation, and were told that, as a registered student group, they could 
reapply to host an event at the university at a future date. The process would 
then be restarted with the same requirements. 
  
"Our commitment to free speech and the right of individuals and groups to 
express their views remains firm," said Rutgers President Richard L. McCormick. 
"In rescinding the reservation, the university makes no judgment on the content 
of the event or the organization's position. It is our responsibility to apply 
our policies fairly and equally, and I am comfortable that we have done so in 
this case. 
  
"Rutgers must and will continue to provide a forum for a wide variety of 
viewpoints," he added. 
  
Contact: Sandra Lanman
732/932-7084, ext. 621
Email: slanman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:slanman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
  


~~~~~~~
PLEASE clip all extraneous text before replying to a message.