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Communications : Past Articles of Interest |
Update
on student issues
From the Fall 1999 Parent Newsletter
Student surveys conducted during the past several years show that
students are arriving at colleges and universities with increasingly
complex life issues. The stress typically associated with the college
years often is compounded by social, academic, financial, family,
and work issues. As a result, some students may suffer academically,
engage in harmful or dangerous behaviors, or exhibit other signs of
distress.
SOS:
Supporting Our Students
A new program, SOS:
Supporting Our Students, is designed to advise faculty and
staff about symptoms of stress among students and to provide links
to resources where students can get the assistance they need. The
program, sponsored by the Office for Student Affairs, will include
workshops, newsletters, and other forms of communication geared toward
helping faculty and staff identify areas of special concern such as
suicide warning signs or indicators of alcohol and drug abuse. The
goal of the program is to increase general awareness of student issues
and signs of stress so that students can receive assistance as soon
as possible.
Off-Campus
Housing and Alcohol Issues
University staff members met this summer with Minneapolis city officials
to discuss housing issues and party disturbances among the University's
fraternity/sorority community. Two years ago, a fraternity was required
to vacate its property in order to avoid being condemned by the City
of Minneapolis, Licenses and Consumer Services. Another fraternity
is currently dealing with a letter of intent to condemn, and still
others face repairs or updates to meet city code requirements.
In addition, city officials have called on the University for assistance
in responding to complaints in the fraternity/sorority neighborhoods
about noise ordinance violations, underage drinking, excessive alcohol
consumption, alleged sale of alcohol, and lack of cooperation with
police.
Although campus-area fraternities and sororities are registered with
the University as student groups, they are legal, independent entities
separate from the University. The fraternity and sorority houses are
located on private property within the city's jurisdiction, and the
buildings are owned by alumni or by national fraternity and sorority
organizations.
The University has determined that, although the institution has no
authority over off-campus housing, staff will address health and safety
issues among fraternity and sorority students through the University's
Greek Action Council and Interfraternity Council, and through national
and international headquarters. The University will stress to fraternity
and sorority leaders the importance of ensuring that all members of
the Greek community adhere to existing state and federal laws, city
ordinances, insurance policies, and fraternity and sorority headquarter
policies.
Ultimately, however, the University will support the City of Minneapolis
in a "zero-tolerance" approach to housing and alcohol issues. Violations
will be processed through the appropriate governmental channels, and
sanctions will be imposed when violations occur. |
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