The New School’s Tishman Auditorium erupted with applause at the Lang Dean’s List Honor Symposium on April 14 as members of the University Student Senate (USS) gave remarks.

As the crowd interrupted him with applause, Ryder Glickman, a third-year economics student at Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts and the New School for Social Research and vice chair of the USS, used the speech to introduce their new Registered Student Organization (RSO) Compliance Committee. 

The “inner-senate working group” works alongside the Senate’s Finance Committee, which distributes funding to RSOs, to investigate whether RSOs are using their funds for activities that violate international law. This includes war crimes, genocide, apartheid or other human rights abuses. 

International law refers to rules between nations regarding trade, human rights, and war. The United Nations is the primary organization that condemns breaches, like the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and Lebanon. 

Under the proposed investigation system, RSOs will be assigned one of three statuses: “In good standing,” “Under review,” or “Not in good standing.” 

Groups placed under review upon investigation will have their funding temporarily paused. Groups found in violation of policy will be ineligible for funding unless they successfully appeal through a meeting with the Senate Finance Chair.

On April 17, the Compliance Committee placed an RSO “Under review”. Glickman did not share which student organization was under review, but said the committee plans to vote on the RSO’s status on May 1.

The USS is funded by a $9 University Student Senate Fee (SSF), paid by credited students each semester. Therefore, USS activities — and RSOs, which the USS funds — are funded in part by students.

“We believe that the student fee should never support institutions implicated in war crimes, genocide, apartheid, or gross human rights violations,” Glickman said. 

The committee proposal, which was submitted by Glickman in January, follows USS’s earlier “Declaration of Principles” passed on Jan. 30, that introduced the USS’s commitment to ensuring that student funds are not used in ways that conflict with international law. However, the Compliance Committee functions to closely investigate how USS administered funds are spent by RSOs.

The Compliance Committee consists of up to five senators who will meet regularly to review the spending history of RSOs, according to the bill.

According to Glickman, investigations will rely solely on recorded evidence of “material ties” via documented history of events, partnerships, or spending that is found incompliant with international law.

“This isn’t a free speech issue,” Glickman said. “It’s a material ties issue.” 

The committee comes with other Senate initiatives announced at the Symposium to strengthen campus “care infrastructure” as well as a revised “university sanctuary initiative” aimed to support students affected by federal immigration enforcement.