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EDITOR IN CHIEF
Ryan Frank
EDITORIAL EDITORS
Kameron Cole
Stefanie Knowlton
University action needed
In light of
recent riots,
the
University
needs to
reconsider its
approach to
student
behavior off
campus
Out of control parties,
underage drinking
and riots demand
the University’s at
tention. Although the Universi
ty claims to have its hands tied
when governing student behav
ior off campus, community
members are demanding the
University take a more active
role in curbing students’ vio
lent behavior, such as the Hal
loween riots.
Nearly half of the 12 people
arrested by police during the
riot were University students.
In addition, last weekend alone
there was a stabbing and more
than 100 citations for offenses
ranging from minor in posses
sion to drinking and driving.
With that track record in the
last two weeks, concern for stu
dents’ and the community’s
safety should prompt the Uni
versity to take action.
The University brings thou
sands of new students into the
community from all over the
world. It is ridiculous to think
the University should simply
take the “let the authorities
handle it” approach to student
behavior when it is obviously a
University problem.
It is difficult to imagine that
if the University did not exist,
events like the Halloween riots
would still happen. Because
the majority of students live off
campus the University should
see itself as spilling over into
the community. And the Uni
versity should punish student
behavior, such as rioting, both
on and off campus.
This is not to say that every
time a student gets into trouble
with the law the University
needs to respond; however,
when public health comes into
the equation — such as with ri
ots, drinking and driving and
violence— the University
needs to take action.
The Eugene Police Depart
ment has already looked into
cracking down to send a mes
sage that rioting is not accept
able. It is time for the Universi
ty to join the po
lice and send the
same message.
One solution
may be to include
rioting and vio
lent behavior in
the University’s
Student Conduct
Code. Although
most of the regu
lations in the
conduct code
speak exclusively
to students’ be
havior on cam
pus, the Universi
ty has
jurisdiction off
campus when the
offense involves
sexual miscon
duct.
This leaves a
window open for
discussion to in
clude other off
campus offenses.
The conduct
code allows the
Student Conduct
Committee to
vote on and im
plement new vio
lations.
The inclusion
of rioting in the
Conduct Code
would allow the
University to
punish violators
by expulsion,
suspension and
various lesser
penalties.
This would
send a clear mes
sage to students
that this behavior
is not acceptable
and would send a
message to the community that
the University takes responsi
bility for students’ actions.
As it stands now, rioting on
campus is forbidden under
conduct codes. Yet are these
acts any less offensive to the
University when students are
participating in them three
blocks from campus?
It is clear that simply passing
Gioi mini Salimena/Ememld
the buck to local authorities or
blaming social institutions like
campus media is not working.
Proactive measures such as
sponsoring on-campus events
that deter students away from
drinking and rioting help, but
they didn’t stop this year’s riots
nor can they continue to dis
tract students from destructive
behavior off campus.
The University needs to
make it clear to students that
their behavior on campus is
just as important and punish
able as their behavior off cam
pus.
i
This editorial represents the opin
ion of the Emerald editorial
board. Responses may be sent to
ode@oregon. uorepon.edu.
NtWT G'NGR'CW
SAYS ME MAY TAKE
Six months off to
STUDY DINOSAURS.
-- NEWS ITfA*
• NEWT, I KNOW
THIS IS A BAD
TIME, BUT...
ill Hi
1
Thumbs
TO FRANCE
On the 80th an
niversary of the
end of World War
I, the French are
awarding WWI
American Veterans
the Legion of Hon
or for their brav
ery.
TO SCOTT SPAAN
The Ducks’ most
vigorous fan who
returned to beating
the opposition’s
mascot against a
bench for every
point the Ducks
scored against
Washington last
Saturday. Whether
it was special for
the Dawgs or will
continue for the
rest of the season,
it was a welcomed
return.
TO AIACK OF RE
MEMBRANCE
To whomever de
cided that we had
to go to school on
Veterans Day, a
federal holiday.
TOUOSTUOENTS
For a game that
was supposedly
sold out, the top of
the student sec
tion was conspic
uously empty for
most of Satur
day’s football
game. If you are
afraid of the rain,
next time forego
taking a ticket
from someone
who may actually
show up.
CORRECTION
In the story “Akili
Smith reflects on
his career, future”
(ODE, Nov. 6),
Reggie Ogburn
should have been
named as Oregon's
first African-Ameri
can quarterback.
The Emerald re
grets the error.