Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2012-01-23/Arbitration report

Four open cases, proposed decision in Muhammad images, AUSC call for applications

The

opened no new cases this week, and closed no cases, leaving four open.

On 19 January, the Arbitration Committee announced that it will begin accepting applications for membership on the

privileges on the English Wikipedia, and to provide better monitoring and supervision of the CheckUser and Oversight positions along with the use of the applicable tools.

There are three vacancies in non-ArbCom positions on the subcommittee, due to the election of past members to the full committee itself. Applicants for the positions will be reviewed by arbitrators in internal discussions before the community is invited to submit questions to candidates. On 29 February, the committee will announce the appointments.

More information on application requirements and submissions can be found on the AUSC appointment page. Applications must be in by 31 January.

This case was opened to address user conduct over a dispute on what depictions of

has attracted the greatest support in this area, with a total of eight arbitrators signing on. The principle in part explains that "reminding fellow editors that 'Wikipedia is not censored' will often be the beginning, not the end, of a well-informed analysis regarding inclusion or exclusion of content."

A final decision may be published within a week.

The Betacommand 3 case remained at the proposed decision phase this week. Originally the case was opened to address the multitude of sanctions in effect on this editor. None of the proposed remedies, ranging from site bans to editing restrictions, has garnered adequate support to pass. A motion to close was withdrawn yesterday as the committee continues to work towards consensus. The newest proposal again divided the Committee, so far, in a 5 to 4 vote.

This case, which is one of the most active at present, was initially opened due to the actions of several administrators in relation to a user who was blocked over perceived incivility. The evidence and workshop pages were closed after submission deadlines passed. A proposed decision is due to be posted by the end of the week.

This open case was brought to the Committee by an editor to appeal a site ban that was imposed by Jimmy Wales. The expected proposed decision, as mentioned in previous Signpost coverage, is yet to be posted. The tentative date for release had been 16 January. Nevertheless, discussion has continued on the workshop and workshop talk pages.

• A
  Request for Arbitration
  on the matter of "Block review and Afghanistan, India and Pakistan disputes" is likely to be declined, with 5 arbitrators voting against accepting the case.
• A
  Request for Amendment
  in the Race and intelligence case, is under discussion.
• A
  Request for Amendment, seeking to modify the remedy in the Abortion case
  , remains pending.