New off-campus conduct policy

Rowan University administration has implemented a new off-campus living policy, which is now added to the student handbook.

The addendum includes guidelines for off-campus living, including existing Glassboro noise and litter ordinances. The addendum also discusses several off-campus violations that Rowan has the jurisdiction to fine, suspend and expel students for.

“We are hoping that the structure we have provided will act as a guideline but also a deterrent,” said Richard Jones, Associated Vice President for Residential Learning and Dean of Students.

According to Jones, the policy was created as a collaborative effort between the university administration, the Rowan police department, the Glassboro police department and Glassboro officials.

The addendum is split into three sections. According to Jones, the guidelines outline appropriate community behavior, the policy shows how the university enforces consequences and the sanctions outline substance abuse violations and their consequences.

“I agree with the addendum,” said Jessica Kane, junior psychology major. “Living with a state trooper, I know the effects of drinking. I think alcohol should be controlled.”

Jones said that the adding of the addendum to the handbook takes the existing university policies and adds to them, in conjunction with state and Glassboro law. The policy section of the conduct outline also specifies how the university has the jurisdiction to apply consequences to off-campus law violations.

“Whenever you enter a university, there is a contract,” Jones said. “We have the right to look out for the university.”

Jones said that when students sign the papers to enter the university, part of that is a university conduct policy. The university considers students dual community members, both of the Rowan community and the Glassboro community.

“There is a standard students have to live up to,” Jones said.

The addendum gives students guidelines to off-campus living, including maintaining off-campus residences and complying with Glassboro laws such as noise, litter and parking ordinances.

Jones said students should consider living in Glassboro the same as living in their home neighborhood.

“When you live in a house in a community, people go to work at 7 a.m., have children they are raising, and so on. Students should act appropriately within the context of a neighborhood,” Jones said.

Administration concerns about off-campus conduct were officially brought to the attention of the student body on Nov. 30, when President Dr. Donald Farish sent an e-mail throughout campus.

“There is at present a small group of students who are willfully jeopardizing our reputation and our credibility,” said Farish in the e-mail. “Sadly, their behavior reflects poorly on all of us.”

In the e-mail, Farish listed five instances in which he believes students can damage the reputation of the university. The list included throwing and attending “loud and disruptive parties,” drug and alcohol violations and sponsoring “red cup parties.”

“Personally I don’t agree. I believe that students do not like repression. When you tell students they cannot do something like this, students are going to go against it,” said Jolene Wightman, senior psychology major.

The policy sanctions outline in more detail the violations Farish wrote to the student body about. The conduct policy added to the handbook contains a grid, which maps the consequences for each violation and the first, second and third violations.

Consequences include fines, attendance at a drug and alcohol education program, community restitution hours, disciplinary probation, notification of a parent or guardian, completion of an off-campus living workshop, suspension of housing privileges, university suspension or expulsion.

According to the policy, the university will hear students in violation of the sanctions on a case-by-case basis in front of the campus hearing board and the Dean of Students.

The addendum states that campus hearings will not be delayed by criminal proceedings or civil litigation, and students cannot appeal their campus cases based on the dismissal of proceedings or litigation.

“We want to educate students within the larger context of the world in which they live,” Jones said. “We want to educate them about the consequences as well.”