University Senate votes to extend code of conduct

The University of Maryland’s University Senate approved to extend the Code of Student Conduct to include off–campus violations for the first time, said Director of Student Conduct Andrea Goodwin.

According to Goodwin, the current code only applies to behavior on university premises and university-sponsored activities. Off-campus violations are only considered if they include a felony or misdemeanor that results in a conviction.

With the extension, Goodwin said that the school will be able to respond to any behavior that would constitute a violation of the code, regardless of the student’s location. Goodwin said that police will notify the school if a student’s behavior could affect “the health, safety, or well-being of any member of the community or the orderly operation of the university.”

Goodwin said that the extension, which will be enforced at the beginning of the fall 2013 semester, will not have geographic boundaries and will be based solely on behavior. For example, Goodwin said that, if a student sexually assaults another student off-campus, the school will now be notified because it directly impacts the well being of the victim.

“I think it is a wise idea,” said City Councilmember Patrick Wojahn. “Student conduct is student conduct no matter where it takes place, and if it impacts the community, the university should be able to take action.”

Wojahn said that he believes that the extension will not only enhance the UMD, College Park campus community, but that it will “create better relationships between students and long-term residents by encouraging them to have good interactions.”

In fact, both the university and the outside community proposed the idea to make students more accountable for their actions. The idea was suggested by the city’s Neighborhood Stabilization and Quality of Life Workgroup and by the school’s Office of Student Conduct.

According to Wojahn, residents have responded positively to the idea and recognize that it will help to bridge the gap between them and the students.

“There are lots of issues with parties, drinking, and loud noise, and this is one of the tools we could use to curb some of it,” said City Councilmember Robert Day.

Wojahn said that most other colleges, especially large university’s, already have a student code of conduct that includes off campus behavior.

Hodya Margolis, case manager for the Pennsylvania State University Office of Student Misconduct, said that PSU has had this code since the early 1990’s.

“I’m surprised [UMD, College Park] doesn’t have this code already,” said Margolis. “I think it sends the message to students that wherever they are, they are always representing their school.”

Margolis said that all of the case managers, including herself, are trained on the guidelines of the code and what punishments to give for specific actions. It is only in very serious or unusual cases that the director must decide the repercussions for students, himself.

According to Margolis, the most common violations of the approximate 5,000 violations each year include the abuse of alcohol and drugs. Students are given a warning the first time for these violations, said Margolis.

While Margolis and many of the city councilmembers think that the new rule will bring the community closer, some UMD, College Park students have mixed opinions on the matter.

Senior Cali Mrohs said that she is happy to be leaving the university before the law is enforced.

“I understand why the University of Maryland would enforce this policy, but at the same time, the point of going to college is to be able to make mistakes,” said Mrohs. “This will take a lot of the padding away for us to make these mistakes and will be a shock to freshman who are living on their own for the first time,” said Mrohs.

Mrohs also said that she believes a lot of energy will have to be spent to make sure the plan is carried out in the right way because it is such a large school. “Police will have to be very strict to keep the policy consistent,” said Mrohs. “I am also concerned that a lot of students will be expelled or face consequences since Maryland is known as a ‘party school.’”

However, Goodwin said that the university is not trying to stop every student from underage drinking. “People think we are going to take names of people holding red cups, but that is not what the new code is really about,” said Goodwin. Instead, Goodwin said that the university is looking at more serious misconducts.

Sophomore Jessie Martin said that she supports the policy because of how it could positively affect students. “I think the extension will help to make students more comfortable on campus,” said Martin. “If a student is sexually assaulted, I am glad that now they won’t have to face that person every day.”