Supreme Court Settles Polity, Sta Ctesman Lawsf
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
l "Let Each Become Aware" Founded 1957, Incorporated 1975 Free Volume XXXIX, Number 37 ______Monday, February 12, 1996____________MaFirst Copy iFree Supreme Court Settles Polity, Sta Ctesman LawsFlit --- *---Polity Must Turn Over All Documents Regarding Media Consulting Firm --- 17 letter to SUNY, argued that believe'Polity and its records BY JOHN LOWTHER counsel for Polity, the Council The- Statesman Special to the Statesman decide-d to reject The continually offered to let Polity was an "agency" that are subject to the Freedom of After nearly 10 months of Statesman's request on March Polity comply with the FOIL performed State functions. As Information Law." information requests, denials, 30, according to Stephen requests to no avail. such, it must release With it's'building expert appeals and legal wrangling, Adams, Polity executive Eventually, The Statesman information under the FOIL -support Bradley agreed with The Supreme Court of New Uircitoul; . inin an ealetntiI f fttr law In addition. Korzenik and York State has ordered the to The Statesman, because Polity Freeman and sided with The Student Polity Association.to Adams wrote that disburses activity fee Statesman. In his written release information(under the public disclosure money, this function decision he said, "Given the Freedom of Information Law) laws were not renders them fact that Polity is responsible to The Stony Brook Statesman. applicable with "agencies" of state for spending mandatory The Polity Council and respect to the action. student activity fees under SUNY Central officials student government The Statesman supervision of SUNY-Stony position repeatedly denied requests to citing that Polity is sought an advisory Brook. [Polity's] release documents concerning a "private opinion from the is simply not tenable." Also NIA Entertainment, a media organization." Committee on Open Polity will have to pay at least consulting firm hired to The Statesman G o v e r n m e n t a percentage of attorneys' fees advise 3-TV. On January 22, appealed the denial concerning the because of-the suit. Bradley 1996 Justice Vincent G. to SUNY Central the "agency" status of will consider the awarding of Rradlev handed down a next day. The Polity. Robert J. fees at a later date. decision granting The appeal was denied Freeman, executive Polity had until February Statesman' s FOIL request of on April 7 on the director . of the l to comply with the judge's March 24, 1995. He ordered claim: that the Committee, wrote on decision. However, that Polity release "any and "Student Polity May 17, "Polity is, in Statesman editors met with all documents in its Association is a my view, clearly Adams'on Feb. 9. The two possession relating to NIA n o n - f o r - p r o f i t involved in sides agreed that Polity will Entertainment." corporation, which performing a turn over all related The Statesman submitted is separate and g o v e r n m e n t a I documents by February 23, 10 FOIL requests for "a.ll distinct from the PolWty Executive Director Stephen Adams function for, -on business days. Although contracts and paperwork State University of behalf of or in Polity states it was never concerning 'NIA New York." In addition, editorial board decided to sue, conjunction with the State informed 'of the court's Entertainment"' on March 24, SUNY argued that Polity is filing a lawsuiton August 7. University. Polity would not decision, Korzenick said that 1995. On advice from not a state "agency" which is Counsel for The Statesman, exist but for its relationship he phoned Polity's counsel the Leonard Shapiro, legal subject to FOIL. David S. Korzenik, in an April with SUNY/Stony Brook. I day after the judgement was rendered. ses ]vi~i-i iirIL The original FOIL request Polity Disc-xs- was filed after Polity entered into a contract with NIA .0Academic Rte qLi re e rLt s Entertainment for one year to BY ENEs RYAN DE LA PENA advise 3-TV at a cost of he draft, progress, and their Abel described the draft Statesman Editofr weaknesses on tl $12,000, paid by student -which is written by students interactions with faculty, as a policy that would not only A draft of the "Minimal activity fee funds. According and faculty members. If instructors, and other help students, but faculty Undergraduate Student See FOIL, Page 3 Responsibilities" was ailKe. presented at last week's Polity Annette Hicks' president's - Senate meeting. The draft report entailed measures that were outlined students' academic being taken to fight the budget cuts responsibilities to the proposed by the ' Pataki INDEX university. administration. ... 1-5 N EE W-S S...................... - Senior Representative Hicks had to fulfill her Campus Calendar ...... 2 Erika Abel, who is also a resident assistant duties and so EDITORIAL ...................... 6 member of the Undergraduate Secretary Keren Zolotov read the LETTERS ............ ...... 7 Council, presented the draft to president's report on behalf of FEATURES ................ 8-12 Polity members with -the Hicks. S PORTS.................. 13-16 purpose- of eliciting student The report summarized the Sports Briefs ............ 16 wanted Polity steps Hicks is taking in order to fight response.. Abel- COLUMNS: . members - to .'pinpoint the SUNY budget cuts. Among those steps are SUNY Lobby Day The Campus Waichdog ..... 5 on February 26, and the 'Grass Turn It Up, Pass It On ...... 10 r»~-tc, nr\^^^ i^:^^ \i or^^l n-« Cubie Speaks ................... 16 Erika Abel at last week's Senate meeting. tUooIS rgAnllzng weCeKellU, which was held this past weekend. E Literary Magazine passed by the University students. -Center Page Senate, this policy must be The policy would also address Stony Brook followed by students. student concerns such as guidelines Collection of Misfits The 'draft generally on taking courses at other colleges, Magazine, -Page 9 described students' equivalent to courses at Stony Statesman's Literary 'to those In Staller Center responsibilities as it relates to Brook. In addition Supplement, -Page 8 expectations -in the classrooms concerns are evening exams Centerfold. and courses, -their academic And evening classes. 2 - Monday, February 12 Minority Planning Board Hands." Designed to show the End of the Real," Herbert Ursula Oppens, Pianist. of Near Eastern Art," Zainab CelebratesBlackHistory. 1:00 strong, unified support-f(or Blau, University ofWisconsin. 8:00 p.m. Recital Hall, Staller Bahrani. 5:00p.m. University --- 0 FSA Flea Market. 8:30 - 2:00 p.m. Fireside Lounge, families and children who a:re 4:00 p.m. Room E-4340, Center for the Arts. $20. Call Art Gallery, Staller Center for a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Stony Brook Stony Brook Union. Call 632- living in poverty. 10:30 a.m.- Melville Library. Call 444- the Box Office, 632-7230. the Arts. For information, call Union Bi-level. Call 632- 6470. 4:00 p.m. Agenda: prepss 2960. 632-7230. 6517. conference; Q & A sessic)n Thursday, February 15 Free Employee Breast regarding welfare reforim Sibling Preparation Lyme Disease Support Catholic Mass. Noon. Screening Program. 1:00 - proposals; panel discussionis. Program. For expectant FSA Flea Market. 8:30 Group. 7:00-8:00p.m. Hope Level 5, Chapel, Health 4:00p.m. Surgery Mod, Level Stony Brook Union Ballroorm. parents and siblings. 4:00 - a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Stony Brook House Ministries, Pax Christi Sciences Center. Call 444- 5, University Medical Center. T-shirts availabel. For furthier 5:00 p.m. Room 133, 9th Union Bi-level. Call 632- Hospitality Center, 255 2836. No appointment necessary. information, call 444-3176. Floor, South Tower, University 6517. Oakland Avenue, Port Call 444 2565. Medical Center. Call 444- Jefferson Station. Free. Call "A Separate-Cinema: 50 Catholic Mass. Nooin. 2960. Humanities Institute Melissa, 928-9108. Years of Black Cast Posters" Mentor Program, Level 5, Chapel, Heallth Two-Day Fellow Seminar, and Film Festival. Monday - "Computer Workshop on Sciences Center. Call 44 4- Seawolves 'Women's "Fashion and Theatricality," Floor Loom Weaving - Friday, Noon' - 4:00 p.m., 8 Scanning theInternet," Nancy 2836. Basketball vs. Southern Herbert Blau, University of Beginners. 7:00- 9:30 p.m., 8 Mondaya. $90(students; $115/ Duffirin. 4:00-5:00 Wisconsin. 10:30a.m. Room Thursdays. $85/students; non-students; includes clay, p.m. Sinc Site, E-4340,MelvilleLibrary. Call $105/non-students; includes some firing and membership. Room S- 1460, 632-7765. membership. Material fee Stony Brook Union Crafts Melville Library. Iirr ^ - $25. Stony BrookUnion Fiber Center. Call 632-6822. Call 632-7080. PIT^^lL^^item~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~. Career Women's Studio. Call 632-6822 or632- -- - Network Luncheon. Noon. 6828. Prepared Childbirth Yoga. 5:15- - ....... Speaker Alfiedajames, Office Courses. 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. 6:45 pm ., ' 110 .... of Undergraduate Academic -JugglingClub. 7:30p.m. University Medical Center. Tuesdays. -,$65/ MM Affairs. $7.50. Stony Brook Fireside Lounge, Stony Brook Preregistration required. Call students; $80/non- lqk - Union Ballroom. For tickets, Union. New members 4442729. students. Room 231, Stony Connecticut 5:30 p.m. Sports call Dorothy Kutzin, 632- welcome. Brook Union. Call 632-6822. Marine Sciences Complex. 6040. S.A.I.N.T.S. General Research Center Seminar, Department of Theatre Body Meeting. 8:00 p.m. Pottery Making "Consequences of Fall Basic Photography. 7:00 Hospital Chaplaincy Arts, "Beckett Space - A Room 237, Stony Brook Beginners. 7:00-9:00 p.m., 8 Warming for Zooplankton - 9:00 p.m., 6 Wednesdays. Interfaith Prayer Service. Modernist Carnival" by David Union. 632-7080. Tuesdays. $90/students;-$115/ Overwintering Success," Celia $90/students; $110/non- Noon, Level 5, Chapel, Health Saltz. 8:00 p.m. Theatre I, non-students; included 25 Ibs. Chen, Dartmouth College. students; includes Sciences Center. Call 444- Staller Center.