“Since Cabinet action is advisory to the President, I am going to delay signing the approved policy and ask Dr. Bennett to engage student government leadership in discussion around the issue. He agrees with me that this is the best course.”

University President Michael Adams made this statement Tuesday (as published in The Red & Black on Wednesday), announcing he would suspend the new Disclosure Policy until student input was collected and included in the policy – if any policy passes at all.

There were two issues at hand:

First, we as students were not notified or consulted in discussion regarding the policy, and second, the student body is reacting very negatively to the disclosure policy. The first issue has been taken care of – Vice President of Student Affairs Rodney Bennett has met with University Judiciary and Student Government Association student leadership as has Provost Mace – and Adams has promised in his statement that the student body will be included in all further discussion.

Second, drafting a policy that reflects student sentiment is what we’re now working on alongside student leaders across campus.

The fact the senior administration has halted this policy is a reflection of the strength of the student voice when we rally around a cause.

When a cross-section of student leaders (University Judiciary, InterFraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, SGA and The Red & Black editorial board) all expressed their concern, the administration responded.

The feedback we have heard from students has echoed many of the concerns we have expressed to Bennett and Mace.

The proposal tries to create an atmosphere of ethics and honesty, but we believe it does the exact opposite by encouraging students to lie about arrests outside of Athens-Clarke County.

Other concerns include the aspect of enforceability and implementation of this policy.

Student leaders from across campus will be meeting with Bennett again soon in order to re-evaluate the policy.

We’re putting our full efforts behind changing the policy, and we are asking for input from any and all organizations or students who are concerned.

We would like to thank the students who have already given us feedback and input about the policy.

An environment of open discussion is necessary to ensure student opinion is not only heard but taken to the administration.

Of the near 50,000 members of the University of Georgia community, more than two-thirds – 34,000 – are students.

When the student body stands up for a cause, it is heard loud and clear. Don’t let your voice be drowned out; keep emailing us at ugasga@uga.edu.

- Connor McCarthy is the president of the Student Government Association and Nicki Batelli is the vice president.