We, the WCSU Student Body,

Affirm that the hallmarks of a free and robust university environment are founded in the ideals of critical thought, time, effort, willpower, and that these values are especially foundational to an arts education, 

Condemn the usage of an AI generated image in a post commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. on his holiday, the usage of an AI generated logo for President Bernal’s inauguration, and the usage of AI generated “music” in further promotional materials of the inauguration,

Petition the administration to adopt a policy of complete non-usage for generative AI in all promotional materials for Western Connecticut State University going forward, including but not limited to images, videos, audio, text, or other social media and marketing products.

Our reasoning is as follows:

We recognize the value of “artistic work”- economically, culturally, and personally. For this reason, we stand in support of “the working artist.” For this reason, we stand in opposition to its widespread adoption and normalization; 

We recognize the harm that generative AI has on the classroom and on academia, breeding a culture of complacency and inaction, and churning out unprepared students to become unprepared professionals. For this reason, we stand in opposition to its widespread adoption and normalization;

We recognize the environmentally unsustainable nature of the usage of generative AI and of the unprecedented infrastructural expansion to support projected usage of generative AI. For this reason, we stand in opposition to its widespread adoption and normalization; 

We recognize the negative effect that generative AI has on our information landscape, and its casual poison that breeds hate and misinformation. For this reason, we stand in opposition to its widespread adoption and normalization; 

We recognize that a functional campus community is founded on mutual respect between the administration and student body, and the university’s AI policy is fundamentally against the interests of students and their education at WCSU. For this reason, we stand in opposition to its widespread adoption and normalization;

Please adopt this policy swiftly and without compromise. Thank you.

Sincerely,
the WCSU Student Body*

*Written without AI