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Dean of Students, PACE work for new code of conduct

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Incoming University of Wisconsin students will soon be armed with a code of conduct before setting foot on campus.

Dean of Students Luoluo Hong introduced plans for a new student code of conduct at Tuesday’s Policy Alternatives Community and Education meeting.

The code will include expectations for students and suggestions about how to treat others. It will also outline consequences students will face regarding behavior issues such as fighting and breaking the law, according to Aaron Brower, the PACE project’s principal investigator.

Brower said the current conduct code is ineffectual among the UW student body.

“My guess is most students are unaware of what is expected of them,” Brower said, adding he himself was unfamiliar with the current student code of conduct. “Right now there is not much clarity. We want to make it clear what the boundaries are.”

According to City Council President Mike Verveer, the anticipated code should take at least two years to fully replace the current code, which he describes as “just a bland bunch of rules.”

He added students will be the primary focus throughout the entire effort.

Many students said they were unaware that a UW code of conduct existed.

“I wasn’t aware of any set rules when I arrived on campus,” UW sophomore Melissa Trinley said. “I think making new students conscious of rules [for] what is and is not acceptable can’t hurt. Ideally it would lessen behavior issues with students.”

Trinley added that although the new set of guidelines may decrease problems, all incoming freshmen who are away from home for the first time are susceptible to behavioral problems, especially when alcohol is involved.

Brower said the PACE project will work with the Dean of Students office to create the new code, which will likely include information on alcohol consumption.

Dr. Richard Yoast, director of the American Medical Association’s Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, also gave a presentation urging colleges nationwide not to accept financial sponsorship from alcohol interests, Verveer said.

Those at the meeting also touched on the upcoming Mifflin Street Block Party.