Working Document

Mission Statement

The Human Rights Center (HRC) is a cultural center of Knox College which provides an outlet for progressive thought, open-minded discussions, and human rights activism. The center is open to all members of the Knox community and strives to interact with the Galesburg community.

Designated as a "safe zone", the HRC is open to anyone seeking a safe space to discuss and explore personal issues and views. The HRC clubs address human rights and social justice concerns with an emphasis on educating the Knox community through encouraging and demonstrating activism.

Individuals from each club come together to form the HRC task force which addresses issues concerning the cultural center as a whole. The HRC is a co-operative; clubs are expected to work together through supporting each other's programs.

 

Human Rights Center House Budget Policy 

Each academic year the Human Rights Center will receive an allotment from the Intercultural Life Office that will serve as the house budget for the year. At the beginning of the year, the HRC task force will designate two contact people to serve as liaisons between the HRC task force and the Intercultural Life Offices. At least one of these budget contact people must not be a senior. All purchases made with this allotment will be discussed by the HRC task force until a consensus of the group is achieved.

 

Human Rights Center Alcohol Policy

Following the precedent established by the other cultural centers, the Human Rights Center (HRC) is a dry and smoke-free building. Social events will follow the policies established by Knox College in the student handbook (pdf) for events that are non-alcoholic; the sponsoring HRC club of the event is responsible for assigning party sponsors/monitors to enforce college policy. Clubs in violation of this policy will be penalized by the HRC task force on a case-by-case basis.

 

Keyholders Article

Keys to the HRC are issued to club leaders by the Intercultural Life Center.  The keyholder is responsible for the building and the people who are in the building.  Keyholders are expected to enforce the alcohol policy and do everything necessary to close up the building (for example, lock the doors, turn lights off, close windows, turn computer off and leave the air or heat as it was).

 

Task Force Article

The HRC task force is composed of representatives from each club.  The purpose of the task force is to oversee the house budget, general care of the house and work with the Intercultural Life Office. The task force has the ultimate authority to make final decisions about the HRC, including what clubs/organizations use the center, decide what social activities happen and who will take responsibility for them, manage the library and managing the scrapbook.

Clubs are responsible for delegating a member to attend task force meetings on a regular basis.  Failure to comply will result in consequences as decided by the task force.

The task force is responsible for liasonning with facilities.