Student rights and responsibilities are a constant issue at Georgetown. Whether discussing town-gown relations or the sexual assault policy, the scope of students rights is consistently debated. This week, however, Students of Georgetown Incorporated and the FRIENDS Initiative have taken a significantly positive step to assure that the rights of students are more clearly delineated.
The Know Your Rights booklet explains the scope of several different potentially problematic or confusing organizations and policies in and around the University. The booklet, an invaluable addition to Georgetown, represents the efforts of students to inform each other. An informed student population can only lead to more positive change on campus.
According to Eric Lashner (CAS ‘05), one of the pamphlet’s creators, each subject was carefully researched as students sought to include all pertinent information. Students interviewed officers from the Department of Public Safety and the Metropolitan Police Department, as well as Georgetown administrators in order to provide a comprehensive overview of rules and sanctions in and around the University.
The booklet outlines several University policies that may have previously seemed unclear to students. The points of the recently-revised alcohol policy are clearly presented, as is the procedure of the Georgetown Emergency Medical Response team.
The booklet is divided into several sections, each devoted to a different issue facing students. Subjects range from the nuances of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act to the average cost of a taxicab. The best feature of the booklet is that it manages to present vital information about such a wide range of topics in only 13 pages.
However, it is possible that this brevity comes at the expense of content. For example, the booklet addresses sexual assault, but makes no mention of Georgetown’s controversial and recently modified adjudication process.
Another strong feature of the pamphlet is that it encourages students to understand and evoke their rights while simultaneously becoming cognizant of their responsibilities to the University and the surrounding community.
According to the booklet: “Rights do not exist in a vacuum. With rights come responsibilities. As students we have the responsibility to participate in the University community, respecting fellow students and University officials. As citizens, we have to responsibility to obey the law and respect city officials.”
Not only is the booklet an advancement for the Unviersity; the manner in which it was introduced to students was extremely positive as well. This week, designated Know Your Rights week, included a barbeque, a dance and the distribution of plenty of free items to popularize the booklet and its cause. These events have caught the attention of students, making the distribution of the booklet a resounding success.
The Know Your Rights booklet should serve as a valuable resource for students, who can no longer claim to be ignorant of University or D.C. policy. Similarly, it proves to both the Administration and the Georgetown community that students are actively seeking a better understanding of their rights and responsibilities.
