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Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas

Student Government Association Resolution

WHEREAS, Lamar University has a long history of promoting and protecting civil liberties as provided by the Constitutions of the United States and of the State of Texas, and

WHEREAS, Lamar University has a diverse population of students, faculty, and staff which provide a valuable resource for an enriched education, campus culture and civic character; and

WHEREAS, the USA PATRIOT Act, passed on October 26, 2001, shortly after the attacks of September 11, 2001, has provisions that violate basic Constitutional freedoms by:

  1. Allowing for the broad interpretation of “terrorism” to include those who participate in public demonstrations meant to “influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion,” (§ 802) where many students involved in war opposition movements have been targeted by searches and federal investigations,

  2. Allowing for the seizure of student records without a court order or consent of those students (§ 507);

  3. Allowing federal agents to collect information from public libraries while placing gag orders on librarians from disclosing occurrences of providing that information (§ 215), and

WHEREAS, three states; 257 towns, cities, and counties; and fourteen universities have resolutions expressing concerns with or calling for a repeal of the PATRIOT Act;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lamar University Student Government Association affirms the civil liberties granted to all people at Lamar University under the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Texas, and

FURTHER THAT the Lamar University Student Government Association calls for the Mary and John Gray Library to provide students with information-in the form of signs and pamphlets-concerning the government’s increased ability to monitor their library and academic activities, and

FURTHER THAT the Lamar University Student Government Association supports campus police in their continued concern for student’s safety and civil liberties, and

FURTHER THAT the Lamar University Student Government Association opposes the use of following measures being taken under the USA PATRIOT Act:

  1. Monitoring of political or religious gatherings by individuals exercising their first amendment rights,

  2. Monitoring of research or creative activity by faculty or students, or of course content or activity,

  3. Monitoring the library or student records of any kind, and

FINALLY, that copies of this resolution be made available to students and faculty and specifically supplied to President Simmons, Dr. Johnson, the Beaumont City Council, Mayor Evelyn Lord, Representative Nick Lampson and Senators Kay Bailey Hutchinson and John Cornyn.