COD moves to reduce outbursts at meetings

Residents wishing to make general comments at College of DuPage board meetings will have to wait until the end of the session in a new protocol approved by the board of trustees.

At the board's most recent meeting on Thursday, that meant visitors wanting to make general comments had to wait until around midnight.

The board decided that visitors who wish to address specific agenda items may continue to speak near the beginning of meetings. But any comments residents might have that aren't directly related to items on the board's agenda must wait until the end.

The new protocol also outlines other rules for audience participation to limit outbursts, applause or "other types of disturbances or disruptions (that) will not be tolerated."

Those who get a verbal warning but continue to disturb meetings will be asked to leave, and speakers cannot be disrespectful to board members or others, according to the protocol. Media displays are prohibited, and attendees cannot stand in the aisles.

COD spokesman Joseph Moore said the rules are applicable to all meetings.

"At recent meetings, there have been greater numbers of speakers from an outside group that took up an exceptional amount of time and made it more difficult for the board to conduct its work," Moore said.

Board Vice Chairman Kathy Hamilton was the sole vote against the rules.

"It places space between our constituents and ourselves," Hamilton said. "I have to ask what are you afraid of that you have to create a policy like this? It is really unnecessary and I think it takes away from our constituents' First Amendment rights."

But Trustee Kim Savage said she did not think the protocol came from a place of fear.

"I think there are legitimate reasons to be concerned about everybody in the building's public safety, having worked in institutions and having dealt with events and crowd control," she said.

"Having people running around with cameras and so on and so forth can be distracting during the meetings, and by separating the things this way, it allows the board to focus on our business before it gets too late and everybody is short on brain cells," Savage said.

Co-Vice Chairman Joseph Wozniak said the rules were about having order at board meetings.

At Thursday's meeting, resident Laura Reigle, who started to talk about COD's enrollment trends during the agenda-related comments section, was told she would have to speak during general comments since it was not immediately clear how her opinions related to certain parts of the agenda.

At the end of the meeting, Reigle spoke during general comments, saying the new protocol was not equally applied to attendees throughout the meeting.

COD student Miguel Marino was one of the last people to speak. He said people need to be more respectful at COD board meetings.

"It is time for us to put a stop on bullying, mocking and disrespecting of any kind here and this goes for everyone, including myself," Marino said. "Don't forget that we are in a professional setting. We need to start attacking the issue and stop attacking the person."