On Tue, 26 Aug 2003, Tucker, David wrote:
> my experience, they tend to use it as the ultimate trump card. Students
> just can't fight it. Most won't even try because they will likely loose.
> It's almost as if the act of simply opposing the honor counsel is enough to
> get you the boot. The only people I know who faced them, and remained a
> student at the Y, are the people that accepted there decisions without
> question. The truth is that being a private school, they can kick anyone
> out for any reason. A state school would have a much harder time doing
> that, and would be subject to the courts if they tried.
> We all agreed to the rules before we showed up for the first class.
> However, I had no idea how the system worked until I saw it in action.
That's no excuse to let a bad system continue. I also don't accept the
"America - love it or leave it" line; "Improve it" is the unlisted, and IMHO
best, alternative.
We're way too fast to accept totalitarianism as a governing system in all
sorts of situations, and secret tribunals with overnight banishments are just
one hazard of such societies.
I realized the other day that the administration has pretty good solidarity
against the students - for instance, they've implemented pay caps for student
employees that keep us from being paid according to supply and demand, and
they strictly limit what kinds of media we see on campus.
So the classic response would be to unionize; show solidarity among the
students. Unfortunately, apathy, abdication of responsibility and a refusal
to take an interest in what students see as a temporary environment keep them
and their successors in bondage.
Wow, is this OT or what?
-J
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