BUSH has Arrived! (Board Undertaking Student Hazard)

Following conversations with Risk Management (RM), the Office of Student Engagement (OSE), and Weapons of Mass Distraction (WMD), Senate has established a new liaisonship. Risk Management feels far removed from students, with an impersonal approach to evaluating risks from events organized by student groups. They are in constant communication with almost every facet of the college except for students (only in some cases are they involved in a conversation, but not really with student groups and clubs). This has culminated in the perception that Risk Management does not need to follow the Community Constitution. Risk Management is directly in communication with almost every facet of the college except with student groups. This can be demonstrated as reporting to Admin, participation in college established committees: like the Accessibility and Sustainability committees, and a continued partnership between OSE and RM.

The example that brought this necessity to light was the Nudity Guideline being imposed on WMD, one that does not exist in writing or on the RM website. There was a lack of communication that the guideline required swimsuit-level coverage. Having never been to a WMD event, RM and OSE were not aware that WMD was actually already following all of the new guidelines set in place, as well as having even more precautions. Most obviously, there was no lower genitalia exposed, only topless performance. According to RM’s definition of appropriate exposure, “performers need to have chest, groin, and buttocks covered at a level equivalent to standard swimwear. Each performer can determine what that looks like for themselves; this avoids the college making distinctions based on gender identity or anatomy,” WMD was already in compliance with this. 

The removed risk evaluation process can be beneficial in some cases, but in most is detrimental to student autonomy. Context is necessary in many cases.

Therefore, a new committee has been established, a liaison between Senate, RM, and OSE. Establishing constant communication between us allows for contextualized explanation and less risk of imposing guidelines that are already being followed by student groups. It also allows us to preserve student autonomy within the groups that Senate helps fund and advocate for.