By Alan Rizzo Watertown Times Staff Writer Published: Monday, October 12, 2015 at 12:30 AM POTSDAM — While their vote to approve code changes Friday was unanimous, some SUNY Potsdam College Council members had “serious concerns” about language in the institution’s updated student code of rights and responsibilities, which has been criticized as unfair by students and alumni. The vote, which took place at the council’s first meeting of the academic year, was amended to show that members had “serious concerns” about some wording in the code, asking SUNY to revisit it. Before the vote, council member Roger B. Linden said language that prohibits students accused of wrongdoing from querying witnesses directly during a proceeding is “a denial of the right to ask questions.” Responding to his request for more information, Annette L. Robbins, director of student conduct and community standards, said that in the updated code, questions of the accused will be written, then reviewed by the chairperson of the proceeding, who will determine whether they are appropriate. She said the college chose that route after consulting SUNY Oswego. Mr. Linden, who later voted yes, continued to take issue with the language after hearing Ms. Robbins’s explanation. “If anything, it further reinforces my opposition to that part or portion,” he said, adding that he did not see the benefit in putting questions in writing. Student Government Association President Shawn Ramos said while the college should comply with SUNY, it also should make its leaders aware that students are concerned with the language mentioned by Mr. Linden. “I think that’s where we really need to gear our focus, and hopefully make some sort of resolutions to the SUNY system to say this verbiage is not correct, nor do our students feel comfortable with this,” he said. SUNY Potsdam President Kristin G. Esterberg said after the meeting that, along with Vice President for Enrollment Management Rick A. Miller, she has begun to put together a review of student conduct policy and processes, which has been planned since last year. She said Friday’s vote concerned minor language changes to make the college’s code compliant with SUNY policy. Whether the code will need further adjustments will be up to those performing the review, and it will have to be approved by legal staff, according to Ms. Esterberg. “Any major changes that come out of the review we’ll conduct over the course of the academic year will obviously need to be brought to counsel, because that’s part of the charter,” she said. In June, SUNY Potsdam alumnus David Mansor wrote to SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher and the board of trustees requesting a full review of the college’s judicial process, arguing that investigations of student incidents occurring both on and off campus do not allow for a student’s right to due process, and to a hearing from an impartial body under section 500.2 of SUNY Standards. Also at the meeting, Council members voted to name the space between Crumb Library and Merritt Hall as Bicentennial Plaza, in honor of the college’s 200th year in 2016. Ms. Esterberg said the plaza is an attractive way to memorialize the bicentennial, and may eventually include benches and plantings.