On Nov. 23, Principal Heather Munroe-Blum accepted all three recommendations to revise the Code of Student Conduct and security on campus from Dean of Arts Christopher Manfredi’s Report of the Open Forum on Freedom of Expression and Peaceful Assembly. In an email to the McGill community, Munroe-Blum detailed the steps that the administration has already taken—and will continue to take—to implement these recommendations.

Munroe-Blum mandated Manfredi’s report following Dean of Law Daniel Jutras’ report on the events of Nov. 10, 2011, when an occupation of the James Administration Building ended with riot police dispersing and pepper-spraying students on campus. The Principal asked Manfredi to chair a series of open-forum sessions where students, faculty, non-academic staff, and senior administration could discuss campus issues, including the right to peaceful assembly on campus.

Published on Oct. 8, Manfredi’s report describes the key discussions and concerns conveyed at the four open-forum sessions, which took place between March 1 and May 2, and provides three recommendations based on that dialogue. These recommendations include the clarification of several clauses in the Code of Student Conduct, the revision of the Provisional Protocol, and a review of McGill Security Services’ training program.

In response to Manfredi’s first recommendation regarding the Code of Student Conduct, Munroe-Blum said she has created a working group specifically mandated to deal with this issue. She has asked professor Lydia White, associate provost (policies, procedures and equity), to chair the group.

Munroe-Blum has mandated that the working group consider Section 6.3.1 of Manfredi’s report, which discusses the use of masks and other forms of concealed identity within the context of a protest. The Principal asked that the group bring recommended amendments of the Code to the McGill Senate in February or March 2013. Senate will formally consider recommended amendments in March or April 2013.

In an email to the Tribune, White commented on the challenge of making changes to the  Code.

“Terminology can sometimes be open to multiple interpretations,” White wrote. “This is one of the issues that we will have to consider.”

According to White, three student senators will sit on the work group—one undergraduate, one graduate, and one Continuing Studies—whose names will be proposed by the Senate Nominating Committee. She said the group’s first meeting will probably occur in mid-December or early January.

Munroe-Blum also addressed Manfredi’s recommendation that “the ‘James Protocol’ should be revised or reconsidered with a view towards adopting a less restrictive approach to access and security.”

“Changes have already been implemented, and further work is currently under way on making physical changes to the first floor of the James Administration Building, so that visitors to the building are admitted quickly and efficiently while maintaining the safety and security of the approximately 300 people who work in the building,” Munroe-Blum wrote.

Munroe-Blum confirmed that she has accepted Vice-Principal (Administration and Finance) Michael Di Grappa’s proposal to revise the James Protocol, which includes rules and procedures for scheduled and unscheduled visitors to the James Building, as well as further suggestions to facilitate access for frequent visitors.

According to Di Grappa’s proposal, the James Protocol is open to revision.

“The Protocol will be reviewed once we have a chance to evaluate effectiveness of the changes being made to the entrance,” Di Grappa wrote. “[It] will also be reviewed periodically to ensure it meets the needs of [both] our community [and the James Building] personnel.”

Regarding Manfredi’s recommendation that Security Services review their training program, Munroe-Blum said she has accepted Di Grappa’s suggested two initiatives. These include a training program “to ensure that Security Services personnel … have a full understanding of the Code of Student Conduct,” and regular meetings between the Dean of Students and Security personnel starting in December. The purpose of these meetings is to ensure a common understanding of Security Services’ roles and procedures, to improve the nature and accuracy of incident reports, and to maintain open communication on matters related to the disciplinary process.

Munroe-Blum  also provided an update on the Provisional Protocol regarding demonstrations, protests, and occupations on McGill’s campuses.

“Work is under way on adapting the Provisional Protocol into a permanent protocol, and a first draft will be sent on Nov. 30 … to the McGill community for comments and suggestions,” she wrote.

Munroe-Blum said suggestions will be integrated into a document, that will be presented to Senate on Jan. 23, 2013, and to the Board of Governors on Jan 29, 2013.

Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Vice-President Haley Dinel’s was pleased to hear that Munroe-Blum had embraced Manfredi’s recommendations. However, she believes that much work remains. Dinel also expressed several concerns with regard to White’s work group and the James Protocol.

“The [work group] is smaller than I imagined … I would [have] liked to have seen more students [in the group] because it is an issue that is absolutely critical for us at this juncture with the university,” Dinel said. “My concern with the [revised] James Protocol is that is does not address the [issue] that the building is closed off … there is still perceived, and often real, separation between the James Building and the rest of campus.”