Regents approve rule on residence hall patrols

PULLMAN – The Board of Regents of Washington State University approved a policy that will allow routine police patrols in residence halls at the board’s regularly scheduled meeting Friday, Nov. 17.

The regents had approved the policy as an emergency measure in September.
The rule continues the prior university practice allowing police and other university personnel on official business to be in common areas of the halls without being escorted by a person who lives on the floor.

Administrators and regents stressed that university police in the residence halls still would be guided by constitutional guidelines on search and seizure and the privacy of student rooms would be protected.

Board chair Kenneth Alhadeff said, “We are trying to do what we need to do to continue to keep our students safe.”

As is the case at many universities, WSU has long conducted routine security patrols in common areas of residence halls. Alhadeff said he had never heard concerns expressed by students about this policy during his 10 years as a regent until the policy was called into question by a Whitman County Superior Court ruling this spring. The ruling found, in part, that WSU’s rules on guests in the residence halls provided students with an expectation of privacy in those common areas.

The revised rule clarifies the policy on guests, exempting police officers and other WSU personnel on university business from being required to be accompanied by a resident of the floor when going into the common areas of the residence halls.

The regents approved the rule unanimously; Regent Elizabeth Cowles was not present for the vote. ASWSU President Zach Wurtz said student leaders supported the action.

The regents also approved a revision of the student code of conduct, which has been in the works for more than a year. An earlier rewrite of the code was delayed this spring after some faculty and students raised issues about the possible impact of the code on free speech. Those concerns were addressed in the latest version, which went through an additional round of public hearings before being enacted.

In other business, WSU President V. Lane Rawlins spoke about the campus controversy surrounding a Nov. 2 demonstration and counter-demonstration on the Terrell Mall regarding immigration issues. Rawlins said, “Our university is committed to being a place where people can exercise their free speech rights without fear of harassment or intimidation. We expect all members of the university community – faculty, staff and students – to carry on these discussions in a civil and constructive way.”

The complete text of Rawlins’ statement is available at
http://www.wsunews.wsu.edu/detail.asp?StoryID=6171

The regents also approved the issuance of up to $24.65 million in bonds to fund Phases I and II of the Martin Stadium renovation project. Debt service for the bonds will be funded from athletic department revenues and a $25 per semester fee enacted by the students in the spring. Construction is scheduled to begin shortly after the football season ends, but will be phased in such a way to allow the stadium to be used next fall.

Complete details of the project are available at http://martinstadium.org/.

The regents also heard an update on the presidential search process from Regent Rafael Stone who is chairing the search advisory committee. The committee was scheduled to have its next meeting Friday afternoon.

On Saturday, the regents of Washington State University and the University of Washington will hold a joint meeting at 11:30 a.m. in Room 518 of the Smith Center for Undergraduate Education. Gov. Christine Gregoire is scheduled to join the meeting at 12:30 p.m. to discuss her Washington Learns proposals and other higher education issues.

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