Next: Elaboration on Association
Up: No Title
Previous: Selected Letters of
September 26, 1969
Mr. Patrick C. Shea, President
Associated Students of Stanford University
Stanford, Ca. 94305
Dear Mr. Shea:
In a resolution passed at their regular meeting on May
13, 1969, the Board of Trustees delegated to me their authority
to approve the new ASSU Constitution, ``with the understanding
that the President will introduce a suitable preamble or include
other statements of interpretations or reservations as may be
appropriate.'' This letter is to inform you of my approval of
the Constitution, together with such items of interpretation
and reservation as I believe are relevant and necessary to provide
first for an orderly transition from student government under
the old system to the new, and second for orderly development
of the new system in the spirit set forth in its Constitution.
It is appropriate that a general statement of approval be
made, and the following is that statement:
By approval of this Constitution, Stanford University
authorizes the Associated Students of Stanford University
to assume and discharge major obligations in the governance of
student affairs and activities within the educational purposes
of the University, and within the structure of policies and regulations
established through the President of the University and the Board
of Trustees.
In addition to the general statement, my approval of the Constitution
is made with the following comments:
- In Article II, Section 2, B-2, I interpret the
words ``General Studies'' to mean ``without a declared major.''
This is consistent with the intent of the Constitution and it
allows for whatever changes in nomenclature may result from adoption
of recommendations of the Study of Education at Stanford and
other proposals.
- Although there is no express provision for reapportionment
of the Senate, I interpret the care evident in the apportioning
of representation to imply that reasonable diligence will be
exercised in maintaining fairness of apportionment among the
various constituencies.
- It seems clear that the Committee on Nominations as
described in Article II, Section 9 cannot be brought into
being this fall because of the Constitution's provisions for
its staffing. The important work of that committee must not be
allowed to go undone. I think that the ASSU President and
Senate should devise an appropriate interim nomination process
subject to the reservation that it reflect the spirit of the arrangements
provided for in Article II, Section 9.
- Article II, Section 9, E is interpreted as applying
only to Committees of the ASSU.
- Since the present Legislative and Judicial Charter,
as amended, was approved by more than two-thirds of those students
voting in a referendum, I interpret nothing in the new Constitution
as disestablishing any existing judicial process.
- Although various matters of right and procedure are
embodied in Article IV of the new Constitution, these
do not preclude the SJC and SCLC from establishing others
which are consistent with their Charter and Constitution.
- The authority to collect fees accrues to the Controller
from the President; and thus the President bears ultimate residual
and responsibility for the equitable assessment of fees, and
for their use being consistent with the educational purposes
of the University. I therefore think it important to establish
early agreement, after implementation of Article II,
on funding for the essential operating expenses of the Association
and the total fees, and their assessment and collection. Also,
I think it is important to assure that any referendum for the
purpose of establishing fees have approval by a large enough
percentage of the student community to be a convincing expression
of the will of the entire body being taxed. It is also necessary
to clarify the important matter of the University's fiscal obligations
to ASSU under the terms of the new Constitution and independent
fee structure. I am, therefore, designating the Provost, Dean
of Students, and Controller, or their designees, to act in my
behalf with the ASSU President, Financial Manager, and two
members of the Student Senate as a committee to consider and
develop a general consensus concerning these points, after which
the committee will be discharged.
- For the year 1969-70, $123,000 of University general
funds are allocated to the Association for the conduct of its
business. Until such time as the Senate has approved the ASSU
budget in detail, the Dean of Students, Student Financial Manager,
and ASSU President are authorized collectively to approve
allocations from this sum. In doing this, they should take into
account the special needs of those organizations whose program
expenditures occur primarily during Autumn Quarter, and those
prior items of budget that were tentatively approved by the old
Legislature of the ASSU.
- When the ASSU budget has been passed by the Senate,
and subsequently approved by the University President, and when
the committee named in (7.) has reached agreement on funding,
fee arrangements, and questions of fiscal responsibility, the
stewardship of the Dean of Students as Financial Director of
the Association will cease.
- It is my opinion that the new Constitution fails
to provide sufficient time before the end of the regular academic
year for the training of a successor Financial Manager by the
incumbent. The responsibilities of this position are such that
a greater ``overlap'' is desirable. I wish to express a
general reservation about existing arrangements, and state that
it is my hope that this defect will receive prompt attention
from the ASSU President and Senate.
- Secretarial and other staff members of the Association
Office shall be employees of the University, and the Association
shall be charged for their services at a rate which shall equal
the cost to the University of their salaries plus staff benefits.
As provided in the Constitution, they shall function under the
supervision of the Association President.
- I trust that the ASSU President and Senate will
give early attention to the question of liability for libel,
and will establish such mechanisms as are necessary for the protection
of the Association and the University from charges arising from
statements in publications printed by ASSU or published under
its auspices.
- As the representative legislative body of the Association,
I think it is appropriate for the Senate to interpret itself
as replacing the old LASSU where LASSU involvement has
been defined in other areas of University governance.
Finally, I am happy to express my best wishes to the Association
for its vitality and prosperity under its new Constitution.
Very Sincerely Yours,
K.S. Pitzer
President
Next: Elaboration on Association
Up: No Title
Previous: Selected Letters of