February 9, 1989

30 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL 1126 .
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
STUDENT UNION

Sponsored by:

President Pro-Tempore
Represen ta ti ve-a t-Large
Law Representative

David Hummels
Vicky Powell
Vicky Ortega

Authored by:

President Pro-Tempore
Representative-at-Large

David Hummels
Vicky Powell

A BILL
BILL HISTORY

In the February 6, 1989 issue of the Campus Press an ad was placed in ·the Fine
Line stating, "STOP RAPE, say Yes". This ad is extremely offensive and is
potentially dangerous to women. It implies that there should be no such thing as
the concept of rape -- that women should be the sexual property of men, and
therefore saying "no" is not a woman's right. These implications are clearly
misogynistic.
The ad was included in spite of the fact that the Campus Press prints a disclaimer
reserving the right to not print ads that are "obscene, racist, sexist, or in any way
offensive to any segment of (the Campus Press) readership." Additionally,
Legislative Council was given, amidst abject apologies, assurances that there would
be no repetition of racist and sexist ads in the Fine Line. In spite of the oversight
procedures the Campus Press promised, offensive material has once again
appeared.
Research on college campuses indicates that 52% of women students surveyed have
experienced some kind of sexual victimization. One in eight female students are
raped. It is clear that rape and sexual victimization should be serious concerns for
UCB students.
In November, 1988 UCB released a policy in sexual harassment. In its statement of
policy, the document serves notice that, "It is the policy of the University of
Colorado at Boulder to maintain the University community as a place of work,
study, and residence free of sexual harassment ••• The University is com rni tted to
taking appropriate action against those who violate the Univer:si ty's policy
prohibiting sexual harassment." Later, the document defines harassment in part by
noting it is beha v lor that creates an environr:nen t that is " ••• intimidating, hostile,
or offensive .•• "
It is the feeling of the Legislative body that the Fine Line section of the Campus

Press has contained, currently contains, and if we are to judge from past example,
will continue to contain material that is sexually harassing and creates a dangerous ,
and hostile situation for women on this campus.
It is not our intention to in any way censor or curtail the activities of the press.
They have the right to print material that is legally allowable, and we fully support
that right. However, as members of the Legislature, we have the right, and
certainly the responsibility, to see that student fees do not contribute to the
creation of a hostile and threatening campus environment.

30 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL 1/26 - Page 2
BILL SUMMARY
UCSU Legis1ative Council forbids the use of student fees, currently budgeted for in
any account contained within UCSU Proper, for any activity that would give
financial support to the Campus Press for a period of two weeks following the
passage of this bill.
BE IN ENACTED by the Legislative Council of the University of Colorado Student
Union, THAT:
SECTION 1:
No account under the auspices of UCSU Proper wiU use any of
its student fee money for the financial support of the Campus
Press for a period of two weeks immediately following passage
of this bill.
This bill will effect all accounts included under UCSU Proper
SECTION 2:
only, and not the entirety of UCSU. UCSU Proper includes,
but is not limited to; Legislative Council, the Executive
Discretionary Account, and Public Relations.
SECTION 3:
This bill shall not apply retroactively to those groups who
have previously been authorized by this Council to spend
student fees (33-39 FY), However, this Council expressly
reserves the right to deny funding requests for advertising
in print media for the rest of FY 33-39.
SECTION 4:
Upon receipt of information that any accounts included under
Section 2 have spent student fee money in financial support
of the Campus Press, the UCSU Finance Director will freeze
those accounts until such a time as Legislative Council can
meet to determine additional sanctions.
SECTION 5:
This bill takes effect upon passage.
2/09/89 - PASSES - LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - 1st Reading - 10-6-0-2/16/89- PASSES- LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL- 2nd Reading- 14-2-2
2/23/89 - VETOED by Tri-Executives

f)~~

David Hummels
President Pro-Tempore
UCSU Legislative Council

Chris Drummond
UCSU Executive

Susie Fairchild
UCSU Executive

Tim Kauffman
UCSU Executive