After weeks of dragging out the eviction of controversial satirical campus newspaper the Koala from its Student Center office, administrators finally buckled down over winter break, changing the lock on the office and cleaning it out.
The decision came after members of the Koala did not respond to two different deadlines offered by Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Life Gary R. Ratcliff developed to allow members to challenge the eviction, which was ordered after illegal drug paraphernalia and alcohol were found in the office by a Student Center employee last June, a violation of university policy.
The first appeal deadline of Nov. 6 was extended to Nov. 21 after Eleanor Roosevelt College senior and Koala Editor in Chief David Gregory asked for clarification regarding the appeal process, according to Ratcliff.
When the Koala did not respond to the second appeal date, administrators decided to follow through with their initial decision to evict the group.
“”No evidence was provided to contradict or call into question [the] facility-use policy violation based on the police report that included photos of the bong and alcohol found in the office, the results of the narcotics tests and the statement of the employee who discovered these items,”” Ratcliff stated in an e-mail.
According to Gregory, the Koala did not respond to the deadlines because they were “”artificial and arbitrary”” and gave Ratcliff, rather than a judicial board, sole authority to determine the outcome.
“”Why would we follow the deadlines of a process we completely object to?”” Gregory stated in an e-mail. “”It’s that simple.””
The University Centers Advisory Board has recommended that the space be shared by two student organizations: Mock Trial at UCSD and the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship.
University policy allows the Koala to apply for office space again next year. Gregory, however, said that members of the Koala were “”not done yet”” and would continue to try to get their Media Lounge office back this year by scheduling a possible hearing through UCAB. He also said that members were considering other plans of action, but declined to elaborate.
Ratcliff, though, indicated that no further appeal opportunities would be offered.
