The Wake

The University of Minnesota’s Police Department website still shows photos from the night of April 12, 2003. Street signs pulled down, dumpsters on fire and a car being turned over are shown in color prints. Still don’t remember this night? It was the evening of the hockey riots. For various reasons after the hockey (and alcohol) induced madness, a policy forbidding rioting was put into the University of Minnesota’s Student Conduct Code. The policy prohibits the incitation or participation of riots “on campus, in areas proximate to campus, or…in response to a University-sponsored event.” While most of us probably haven’t seen a copy of the SCC, we all became subject to it when we joined the U of M student body. Currently there is no university policy or body that punishes students for bad behavior off campus, with the exception of the riot rule, which extends the jurisdiction and SCC into areas surrounding campus.

There are, however, other areas that could use area that should be covered by the SCC. Two of these include hate crimes and sexual assault. This is a viable request because essentially the SCC was put into place to safeguard the rights and well being of students.

For example, if I were to go to a large house affiliated with the U, populated by mostly males, get really drunk and be raped, I would face potential health and academic encumbrances following the assault. I could become pregnant or depressed; my grades could slip and my involvement with athletics or U groups would likely dwindle. Considering that up to 90 percent of victims know their attackers, I could even have to sit next to the perpetrator in class. As it stands currently, these problems are not problems of the University, but those of the Minneapolis Police Department.

This lack of accountability needs to change. If a student-related crime occurs that violates the SCC, why shouldn’t the offender be punished just because it did not occur directly on campus? If it’s not okay to riot, it’s not okay to sexually assault or commit hate crimes. An extension of the SCC jurisdiction would help students to be protected and feel safe in areas around campus, where most of us live and work. In addition to proving negative reprocussions for violators, it also sends the message to potential violators that such hurtful behaviors are not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Sanctions can include anything from a verbal warning to probation or expulsion.

Student Judicial Affairs is the agency upholding the SCC. They are allowed to provide sanctions from a verbal warning to expulsion. It is worth noting, however, that Student Judicial Affairs is not an all-powerful, final entity. If charges are brought against a student, he or she has the right to appeal. The Campus Committee on Student Behavior and Student Judicial Affairs work with one another to determine the complexity and options for reconciliation of cases.

Another reason why it would be beneficial for the U to become involved in student-related, yet off campus affairs, is because the Hennepin County District Court does not necessarily have the power to uphold a restraining order on campus. This means that if a student is paying tuition, the county cannot force the student to stay out of certain buildings or areas. This can be very problematic if the attacked student knows the perpetrator, which can be very common. When this occurs, the victim may not feel safe or welcome in the classroom that he or she, like the attacker, is paying for.

One problem being faced is the language to use in order to make the policy effective without becoming an encumbrance. How far should the jurisdiction be extended? Which parts exactly should be extended? Surely the clause banning weapons and fireworks does not need to cover Dinkytown or St. Paul. What fun would hunting season or the 4th of July be without a little gunpowder?

In recent years, students have expressed interest in the extension of the SCC, for the safety and well being of both themselves and their peers. If you’d like to express interest in this cause, get organized. Sign a petition, hold an informative meeting, or contact the office for Student Affairs.