The District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment has granted Georgetown permission to postpone implementing BZA orders the University claims would cause “irreparable harm.”
Although University officials say that many parts of the initial proposal were objectionable, three parts were singled out in the request for postponement of orders.
In a March 29 decision, the BZA placed a list of restrictions on the University such as accepting responsibility to ensure students obey District laws, releasing license plate numbers of all vehicles kept by university students and reporting all disciplinary action to parents.
The University is concerned that the BZA’s orders would force Georgetown to violate the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, said Julie Green Bataille, Assistant Vice President for Communications. According to the document requesting postponement, FERPA protects students by prohibiting “universities from disclosing ‘education records’ of a student … without the consent of the student …”
The University argued it could not comply with the BZA’s order to perform investigations and enforce laws which are the responsibility of various District agencies.
The request for postponement also stated the University could not legally release the license plate numbers of motor vehicles kept by Georgetown students and to direct all such students to register vehicles with the District’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
The University argued the BZA “exceeded its authority in dictating the minutiae of the University’s ‘business’” and could not order the University to notify parents of students who violate Georgetown’s Code of Conduct.
The University also opposed the BZA’s order because the conditions of the March decision would make full realization of the 10 Year Plan impossible. In particular, the University took issue with the BZA’s refusal of a request to increase the undergraduate enrollment above the cap of 5,627.
Juan Gonzalez, Vice President of Student Affairs, told the Voice in a May interview that the 10 Year Plan could not be adapted to incorporate the enrollment cap. “They affect us at the core of future growth implants,” he said.
Green Bataille said the University intends to challenge the BZA’s order, and has until Sept. 5 to notify a court of intent to bring the order up for judicial review.
According to Green Bataille, Georgetown has begun the process of implementing the existing order of the BZA by collecting license plate numbers for student cars, in the event a court rules the University must report them to the District DMV.
