SG Update 12/07

Parking Policy

A new parking policy will take effect in the spring of 2019. The policy states that if more than 40 vehicles are expected for an event being held on campus, event attendees must park in B lot and use RIT shuttle services. This policy applies to events scheduled Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“This policy was designed to help reserve parking spaces for permit holders,” said Katherine Mason, the director of Parking and Transportation.

Some exceptions to the policy include events such as the semesterly career fair and New Student Orientation.

C7.0 Policy

In compliance with the requirement that RIT administration should review policies every five years, the C7.0 policy is now under review. A new C7.0, also known as the Privacy Policy, has been drafted and was presented to the senate for endorsement. It stated that RIT is obligated to provide a healthy and safe environment for students and employees. It also acknowledged that there is a heightened expectation for the university to protect personal information.

To allow for student and employee privacy, it enables the university to collect personal information for business reasons only and to store that information for as long as necessary. As far as the inspection of personal property, the policy allowed RIT to inspect only if the property is on RIT campus and it is determined that there is a health or safety concern.

Another means of balancing privacy invasion under the policy is the requirement of a legitimate reason for the university to record with a video camera. Where there are video cameras, signs must be placed nearby to state that people’s actions may be recorded. The policy removes the Privacy Standing Committee that was put in place by the old C7.0. The committee is replaced with a privacy office that is headed by a privacy officer.

The privacy officer, and anyone who is later hired to work in the privacy office, would be responsible for determining when a person’s personal property could be inspected for a health or safety concern. The specifics of the privacy office, its role and the number of employees were not specified in the draft. Most of the language in the policy was admitted to being similar to that of Cornell University's.

The senators voted against endorsing the new C7.0 policy, feeling that they were not provided with enough information to make an informed position. Many concerns were raised about the role of the privacy office.

Petitions

A response has been given to a petition asking for the removal of an ableist and audist display in B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences. The mural will be changed. However, due to the expenses required to remove the plaque, it will not be taken down.

Another petition — asking to put blind spot mirrors in the residence hall tunnels — was given a response. It stated that 17 mirrors have now been installed at corners and where heavy traffic usually occurs.

A petition asking for the physical maps around campus to be updated was also given a response. It stated the update is currently being worked on and will be finished by the end of 2019.

Finally, a response was given to a petition asking for the installation of hand sanitizer in the Nathaniel Rochester Hall computer lab. The hand sanitizer has been installed.

Awards

Awards for this month’s Student Government accomplishments were given out. Senator of the Month went to CAD senator Corinn Marriott, a fourth year Illustration major. Committee of the Month went to Student Affairs, chaired by Ian Stroszeck, a second year Computing Security major. Representative Student Organization of the Month went to NTID Student Congress.