FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 25th, 2014

UW-MILWAUKEE SANCTIONS STUDENT FOR EXERCISING RIGHT TO PETITION AND ASSEMBLE — STUDENTS’ CIVIL RIGHTS ATTACKED BY UWM ADMIN; MOTIVE APPEARS TO BE CONTROL OVER $23 MILLION IN STUDENT FEES —

MILWAUKEE, WI: Flagrant and ongoing violations of civil rights continued this past Wednesday,

Aug. 20, when the legitimate President of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Associa-

tion, Mohammad Samir Siddique, was convicted of non-academic misconduct for organizing a new

student government. Intimidation and coercion of students by members of UWM Administration

and extralegal administrative directives continue to define the aftermath of former Chancel-

lor Michael Lovell’s May 2013 illegal decision to dissolve the UWM Student Association in re-

taliation against elected student leaders asserting lawful authority over segregated fees

with the intention to decrease them. Siddique stated, “[the petition organizing a new student

government] was in response to what I believe to be continued ignorance or deliberative con-

tempt of Wisconsin state law by UWM administrators.”

The non-academic misconduct committee rendered a decision that sanctioned Siddique and de-

manded that he complete an array of tasks in order to be allowed to maintain student status.

One of the conditional sanctions set forth by UWM forces President Siddique to either public-

ly renounce his title and abide by restrictions on his speech and expression, or else face an

indefinite administrative hold on his student account, which would, in effect, restrict him

from ever registering in classes. “The sanction consists of both compelled speech and a con-

tinuing gag order which blatantly violate my freedom of speech,” said Siddique. He has writ-

ten to the UW-System Regents seeking an appeal of the decision. “The first step is to find

out where they want me to appeal. The decision contained no notice of any appeal rights.”

More than 1,300 students signed an April petition that Siddique helped distribute to organize

under a new student government and to hold elections free from extralegal administrative in-

terference. In contrast, the weak administration-created student government that currently

has the full support and recognition of UWM Administration is based on votes from just 242

students in a referendum emailed out to all students with the subject “Vote Yes UWM!” on the

first day of the Spring 2014 Semester, a referendum in which the UWM Administration disen-

franchised almost 1500 students. To demonstrate the discrepancy between the two groups, less

than 1% of the student body supported the student government recognized by then Chancellor

Lovell, while the group that Siddique supported and participated in, which was not recognized

by Lovell or his successor Interim Chancellor Mark Mone, gained the support of approximately

5% of the student body. “It could not be more obvious that Dr. Lovell dissolved the Student

Association in retaliation for assertive management of student fees, which is guaranteed by

Wisconsin State Statute 36.09(5),” Siddique recalls: “We made sound budgetary decisions in

the spring of 2013 that were then ignored and changed without notice by Administration, and

the students are bearing the costs of this continuing illegal increase in fees.

It seems as though the Dean of Students Office and Student Affairs continue to manipulate the

student voice by propping up their own student government, with a weak constitution written

by staff to give Administration semi-direct control over fees. The motive of administrators

seems to be control of policies, facilities, and approximately $23 million in student fees.

Annual segregated fees total $1,300 per full-time student, up from $1006 in ‘11-’12, $726 in

‘05-’06 and $461 in ‘96-’97. Between fiscal year 2013 and fiscal year 2019, by UWM's own pro-

jections, segregated fees are projected to increase a total of another $706.

Siddique, along with nearly 30 other students, filed a lawsuit in May alleging that the Ad-

ministration’s asserted role in creating and recognizing student government at UWM violated

Wisconsin State Statute 36.09(5), which grants students the exclusive right to self-organize

in order to manage fees and policies regarding student life, services and interests.

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The hearing committee which Siddique’s case was brought in front of had many peculiari-

ties. The non-academic misconduct public hearing was illegally closed over Siddique’s objec-

tions. The committee proceeded to hear the case under the chairmanship of a classified staff

member who is not eligible to serve on any such committee. Furthermore, there were two mem-

bers from the academic staff serving as regular members, which is one more than is allowed by

the committee’s outdated implementing documents.

In its decision letter, the hearing committee found Mr. Siddique guilty of three charg-

es. The first charge addressed was “Disruption of University-Authorized Activity.” It stat-

ed “[t]he student, Mohammad Samir Siddique, did engage in…distribution of a constitutional

petition.” The disposition goes on to state that said activity was a factor that led to

“disruption of University activities.” The other two charges that the university found Mr.

Siddique guilty of committing are “False Statement Regarding a University Matter” and

“Violation of University Rules.”

Siddique stated today that he intends to challenge last Wednesday’s ruling in Milwaukee Coun-

ty Circuit Court in order to preserve his and the students’ freedom of speech and assembly.

Siddique is not the only victim of these tactics by university administrators. When former

Student Association Deputy Speaker, and current UWM Student Association Vice President, Tay-

lor Scott refused to quietly accept the coup in the spring of 2013, he was singled out for

non-academic misconduct charges which held no merit and were eventually dropped. He is now

being threatened with the same non-academic misconduct charges as Siddique for his role in

organizing the students and he was given no legally-sound justification for the disciplinary

hold currently on his registration status.

In January at UW-Parkside, Speaker of the Senate Dustin Beth was leading demands for budget

accountability when he received a cease-and-desist letter from the Dean of Students and was

threatened with suspension. Beth consulted his attorney, stood firm, and was elected presi-

dent of the student body.

But intimidation worked at UW-Madison during and following the 2012-2013 academic year, where

student leaders had been outraged over an illegal veto by former Chancellor Ward of cuts to

sports fees and student union expenses. Backed by a $100,000 legal fund from the United Coun-

cil of UW Students, Associated Students of Madison led the charge for statewide lawsuits be-

fore they caved in to pressure, let their notice of claim expire, and let all assertive dis-

cussion die along with student power.

“For over 40 years, students at UW-Madison and across the state have been robbed of their

statutory right to oversee their student fees,” then ASM Chair Andrew Bulovsky stated in a

press release. “We are asking one final time for both Interim Chancellor Ward and President

Reilly to come, in good faith, to the table for fruitful negotiations.”

Good faith discussion never happens, Siddique says, despite the numerous attempts of such by

students.

Regents, alumni, and students are not the only people who should be outraged. “I tend to be-

lieve that the power is in the hands of the people. The UW System is Wisconsin’s largest

state agency, and we trust its leaders to educate and inspire. A simple glance at the record

shows a dreadful pattern of misuse of authority, at least in my experience,” Siddique stated,

“I wish our chancellors were supporting young leaders instead of attacking and silencing us.

As student body president, I assure you that I will not be silenced and that the UW-Milwaukee

campus community will stand up to these intimidators and bullies starting right now.”

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For any further information or inquiries please contact ASAP at asap4uwm@gmail.com

# # # The ALLIANCE OF STUDENTS ACHIEVING PROGRESS (ASAP) is a movement, currently active in the UW-Milwaukee campus

community. ASAP has had a long history as a party in UW-Milwaukee Student Association Elections and in student

advocacy for 20+ years. Previously known as ‘Achieving Student Action through Progress’, the name may change

but our progressive values and integrity in student and shared governance advocacy will not. We remain a unit-

ed movement of like-minded individuals standing up to ensure everyone has a voice. We believe in a truly shared

system where all governance groups under Wis. Stat. §36.09 work together to advance the collective goals of

their respective Institution, the UW-System, higher education, and the Wisconsin Idea.

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For Immediate Release: August 25th, 2014

UW-MILWAUKEE SANCTIONS STUDENT FOR EXERCISING RIGHT TO PETITION AND ASSEMBLE