The O bserver VOL. XXIII NO. 52 WEDNESDAY , NOVEMBER 14, 1990 THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME AND SAINT MARY’S Bishops say ‘No’ to funerals run by laity <1 WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Helena, Mont., said the step Homan Catholic bishops on would indicate “acceptance of Tuesday showed their wariness priestless parishes and about letting lay people invade ascendance of the non-or- clerical turf. dained.” The bishops’ anxieties came “It would signal that we are out as they voted down a move moving from an ordained to a to allow trained lay members to non-ordained ministry.... The conduct funerals. time people most want a priest In a ballot vote, the measure is when dying, at death and lost by 136 to 113, with a two- afterward.” thirds majority required for A succession of bishops took passage. the floor to assail the plan at Heavy floor opposition had the annual fall meeting of the presaged defeat of the plan. National Conference of Catholic Accepting it would signal that Bishops. "the role and value of the But a few bishops defended it priesthood was being with fervor. questioned," said Bishop Archbishop Francis Hurley of Donald Wuerl of Pittsburgh. Anchorage, Alaska, said “ Such a sweeping move has a “extreme distances” and lot of ramifications and “extreme weather” there make implications,” he said, likely to such lay-led services vital, and make substitution of laity for added: priests “a common practice.” "It would be corporately The measure, spurred by a narrow-minded and sharpening priest shortage, was shortsighted not to allow this proposed by a liturgy provision for the pastoral needs committee headed by Bishop of people at one of their most Joseph Delaney of Fort Worth, poignant moments, the time of Texas. death.” It would have authorized Bishop Robert Sanchez of local bishops to permit lay Santa Fe, New Mex., said the Book signing The Observer/Elisa Klosterman persons to preside at funerals measure would help “us to when no ordained deacon or reach out to the grieving and Father Theodore Hesburgh is shown during yesterday’s book signing of his new autobiography titled, priest was available. suffering with support” when “God, Country, Notre Dame". The turnout for the event was large with a line that stretched outside. Bishop Klden Curtiss of no clergy was available. Bill of Rights was too broad, panel says Editor's note: Last Spring, the “a statement of trust,” alluding judgment by peers, saying tive decision is final." Legal Department of Student The status of to the 1983 Mission Statement “Students will comprise at least The motive behind Article III Government put together a the Student of the University which said, one-half of the panel at admin­ was, according to the philo­ document known as the Bill of “To have a healthy relationship istrative hearings,” and specify­ sophical statement, “to ensure University and Student Rela­ Bill of Rights between the Administration ing that certain offenses will be that students receive due pro­ tions, or simply the Bill of and students, the element of handled specifically by resi­ cess in a disciplinary hearing. The First of a Three Part Series Rights. This document was trust must be present.” dence hall judicial boards. The public scrutiny that public “We hold strong to the notion “If students sit on the hearing hearings provide safeguards passed by the Student Senate, Administration in implementing panels, they become aware of the accused student’s right to but stalled by the Campus Life the rights and responsibilities, that students should not only be what problems exist within the due process. Without public Council for discrepancies in without directly involving the treated as adults, but also act record, arbitrary and subjective both the structure and content Administration in the process of accordingly. In order to do so, Notre Dame community, how they threaten the order of the opinion can be given more o f the document. In this series. development. we propose the enclosed community, and how they can weight.” The Observer wilt examine the The Bill of University and revisions on judicial procedures be resolved responsibly,” the Much confusion surrounded original Bill of Rights, why it Student Relations was the and general rights as students,” philosophical statement said. Article III, according to Pasin failed, and what has become o f product of the Student Gov­ the philosophical statement “The community is weakened and Singh. The article said that the document this year. ernment Legal Department, read. when the administrators are students had the right to an created during the tenure of The inclusion of rights within perceived as ‘those who punish' open hearing, but essentially 1989-90 Student Body Presi­ the Bill that were already men­ and students arc perceived as the hearing could be closed by dent Matt Breslin. The idea of a tioned in du Lac was an auto­ By MONICA YANT those who break rules.’ When a number of factors. If more document outlining students’ matic negative feature, accord­ Associate News Editor students are involved in hear­ than one student is involved, rights had been discussed for ing to Pasin. He cited Article ings, students can no longer and one of the group requested several years, according to VII, which guaranteed “the believe that any resulting pun­ a closed hearing, that student The Bill of University and Pasin, and the new department right to carry on individual or ishment is the result of an un­ had precedence. Student Relations failed as a gave Student Government an organized activity which ex­ sympathetic administration.” “If one of the students in­ single document because it opportunity to develop this presses any opinion regarding the University and/or society. ” The issue of open hearings volved can close the hearing, tried to do too much. idea. and if the administrator always This is the assessment of “That’s already allowed,” he provided the grounds for Article has the final word, the concept members of Student Govern­ Controversy Surrounding the said. III. “Disciplinary hearings will of an open hearing asserts ment, its Legal Department, Content of the Bill: Two articles in particular, be open unless the student in question requests a closed nothing, ” Pasin said. and of the Campus Life Council “The Bill of University and Articles II and III. were subject hearing, in which case the Whether an open hearing is (CLC), who referred the Bill to a Student Relations is based upon to debate by the CLC. hearing shall be closed,” the even beneficial was subject to task force last March. our peer institutions, du Lac, Article II of the Bill concerns Bill read. “In a hearing of two debate as well, according to Bill The task force has since and principled beliefs,” said a or more students, any one stu­ Kirk, rector of Stanford Ilall. “I abandoned the document itself, Legal Department summary. dent’s request for a closed don’t really see the benefit. it in favor of restructuring and The Bill was modeled loosely hearing shall take precedence would be unfair to someone to preparing several of the indi­ after the Joint Statement on over the request of one or more be subject to that kind of vidual rights contained in the Rights and Freedoms of Stu­ of the other students [sic] for an scrutiny.” document for approval of the dents, drafted in 1967 by rep­ open hearing.” Administrative hearings are Senate, CLC, and Office of Stu­ resentatives from the American Seven rights cited in the Bill Article III continued, “In actually “tremendously fair,” dent Affairs. Association of University Pro­ • To due process cases where the need to protect according to Kirk. While the Bill was originally fessors, U.S. National Student privacy is in the judgment of Article III also gave residence presented as containing Association, Association of • To be judged by one's peers the parties to the charge, the hall judicial boards extended “reasonable rights that we feel American Colleges, National • To open hearings administrative party may close disciplinary power. However, are or should be granted al­ Association of Student Person­ • To public disclosure of the hearing over the objection since there is no standardized ready,” there was confusion nel Administrators, and Na­ administrative hearings of the charged student(s). role for each hall, such power over the philosophical structure tional Association of Women • To free and uncensored press “At an open hearing the ad­ would have been difficult to im­ and overlapping of rights with Deans and Counselors, accord­ ministration has the discretion plement. The role of the judicial du Lac. ing to Raja Singh, Executive • To freedom of assembly to limit the number of persons board is often different in men's Furthermore, according to Coordinator of the Legal De­ . To not be collectively punished in attendance in order to en­ dorms than women’s, according Student Body President Rob partment. sure an orderly proceeding. In Pasin, the Bill sought involve­ The philosophical statement such instances, the administra­ see RIGHTS / page 6 ment of both students and the of the Bill says the document is page 2 The Observer Wednesday, November 14, 1990 I n s id e C o l u m n W e a t h e r Forecast for noon, Wednesday, Nov. 14. An insider’s Lines show high temperatures. guide to driving a bus Yesterday’s High: 44 Yesterday’s Low: 26 Nation’s High: 93 I was in n o c e n tly (San Gabriel and walking through the Monrovia, Calif.) local grocery on an Nation’s Low: 1 0 August afternoon. (West Yellowstone, Suddenly out of Mont.