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.
