Debate Points A3363

In sub-Section 772 it states that “colleges cannot make inquiries about arrests that did not result in a criminal conviction and criminal convictions that have been sealed. But in sub-section 774 it states that post-acceptance inquiry is okay. Some clarification on why they can look at this after acceptance and not during the acceptance process?

In sub-section 774 it states that colleges may make inquiries about the individual’s past criminal conviction history for the purposes of OFFERING SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING AND SERVICES

o Can you clarify what kind of services you will be offering ex-convicts? And will regular students be able to use these services as well?

o Also, do you know the average cost of providing these services and counseling? I’m sure that the colleges would either have to hire more staff or invest monies into the services this bill would want to provide

Now in section 2 on the second page of the bill text the bill talks about creating an INDIVIDUALIZED PROCESS to include these convicted students in HOUSING on campus or to include them in SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. Am I correct in this analysis of the bill?

o Okay good – so now here is my question. In part b of section 2 the bill lays out how the individualized process must be must be set forth by the college

In part roman numeral 3 it states the “nature of the conviction or convictions and whether it bears a direct relationship to the activity or participation in aspects of campus life at issue”

So how will this be judged? I mean if someone is convicted or murder, rape, robbery, or any other violent crime, wouldn’t this automatically make the college not want to include these students in activities or housing on campus.

Just to prove my point – over the past 5 years at Herkimer college, which is an open-enrollment institution, there have been 48 burglary cases and 14 sexual offenses. At SUNY Albany – for example an institution that is selective – there were 0 reported

crimes over the past 5 years. And this is from the New York State Campus Crime website

So overall wouldn’t it save the college money in the end by just allowing them to ask on the admission application if they have been convicted because then they wouldn’t have to hire more staff to provide counseling and services to these ex-convicts