Macalester College Student Government

Dear Macalester students, staff, faculty, and community members,

As some of you are aware, last spring a group of students began inviting and accepting housing requests from activists and protesters around the country for the Republic National Convention. Macalester College Peace and Justice/Students for a Democratic Society plan for a convergence, of up to 500 guests, using the main lawn as a camp ground.

Members of the College staff have been in contact with the student organization since first becoming aware of the invitation. The College's position is that guests are allowed at events and as guests of residents provided they follow existing College policy (the same as is applied during every other situation). MPJC/SDS is working with College staff to reserve large amounts of space for meetings, educational programs and social events during the time frame of the RNC. MPJC/SDS representatives and College staff have conducted at least five meetings to discuss plans and rationale.

The sticking point in discussion has been the issue of camping. The College has maintained that camping of this scale would not be permitted and that the College staff would not be able to take on the responsibility of managing such an endeavor, especially at the start of a school year. The College could not legally permit such an activity to take place, and is subject to fines if it were to occur. Adding this many additional residents to campus eliminates the Colleges ability to provide for the basic safety and welfare of the campus community and to reasonably guarantee that normal business of the College could be maintained. The College is permitting individual students to host guests during this period, as always expecting the host to take responsibility for their guest.

Certainly the Twin Cities and St. Paul in particular will be far from business as usual during this period. Even without the existence of a campground, the College will be strained to provide security and support to the proposed variety of events and number of anticipated daily visitors. Students, faculty and staff will have many opportunities to participate, experience and become involved in a wide variety of community activities during this period. These events will occur regardless of the housing situation.

MCSG executives have been aware of this situation, and involved in the discussions. The MCSG executive board affirms its support of MPJC/SDS's right to offer events and activities that take advantage of the unusual opportunity of the Republican National Convention. It also supports the responsibility of the College administration to make reasonable efforts to maintain the sense of safety and security we all expect.

We want the Republican National Convention to be a practical learning opportunity for all Macalester students. To that end, we encourage legal, safe activism and political involvement in many different forms. We ask that students choose their activities responsibly and respect the perspectives of their fellow students.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at cmirzayi@macalester.edu.

Thank you,

Chloe Mirzayi on behalf of the MCSG Executive Board

posted by Chloe Mirzayi  # 1:38 PM