Over-zealous publicity czars, watch out. From chalking to postering, the penalties for infractions are now potentially more severe.

University officials are in the midst of a campaign to have student groups adhere to Article 129-A, a New York state education law that gives public universities the authority to bring charges against organizations on campus.

The law reinforces adherence to the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct for officially recognized student groups ‘ and gives judicial responsibility to the administration instead of the Student Association.

‘Before 129-A came along, the University did not really have the authority to actually bring a judicial charge against a group that was not a sorority or fraternity,’ said David Hagerbaumer, director of Campus Life at Binghamton University.

According to Hagerbaumer, the most common infraction of the Rules of Student Conduct may be poster and quarter sheet policy violations. Groups could also be charged for having candles in their rooms, chalking on campus and ‘ in some cases ‘ even protesting.

If a protest led by a student group was held on campus and disrupted classes, he said, they could be brought up on charges for ‘conduct that interferes with or threatens the operation of the University ‘ either in or out of the classroom.’

According to Milton Chester, director of Judicial Affairs, the exact penalties and procedures for dealing with violations have yet to be decided by the University.

‘We’re still working out the details, but I’m anticipating that issues will be handled through Judicial Affairs,’ Chester said, adding that he ‘absolutely’ expected students would be involved in the hearings.

Although he could not comment specifically on how different infractions and organizations would be dealt with, he noted that the Judicial Board would investigate matters in the same way they do with individual violations.

According to page 11 of the Rules of Student Conduct, ‘Sanctions against the student organization may include revocation of recognition of the group, loss of permission to use University facilities and the University name, as well as other appropriate sanctions.’

In an effort to soon be entirely compliant with the law, the administration has been promoting workshops that get student groups to include Article 129-A in their constitutions and review the law with a certified BU official.

If student groups fail to comply, they will not be permitted to use University facilities.

‘Each year a representative of each student organization must attend a workshop’ in order to be certified, Hagerbaumer said.

On Nov. 15 a workshop to be held at 6 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building, room 258, will give student groups the opportunity to learn more about the item.

Although a LEAD conference planned for this Saturday originally offered certification opportunities, the University requires that a BU official be present to explain the rule to students. Though the conference will continue as planned, student groups cannot be certified there.