Spring Break
URI seeks new ways to control student parties
Greg Gentile
Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: News
11/06/09 - In the light of escalating student rowdiness off campus this fall University of Rhode Island officials along with the town of Narragansett have been looking for alternative ways to combat the student parties.
The Vice President of Student Affairs Tom Dougan met with the Narragansett town council last month to discuss issues of off-campus student behavior, such as loudness, underage drinking and large crowds. The university is aware of the situation and calls it a problem.
"We know it is getting worse because of the number of police reports and the number of large gatherings," Dougan said.
During the last town council meeting a town council member brought up the idea of an on-campus bar.
"I don't remember any kind of discussion of an on-campus bar," Dougan said. "[URI President David Dooley] said we will be reviewing all policies in regards to alcohol."
Many students may have received disciplinary action for their conduct off campus and are wondering how the school has this ability.
URI's jurisdiction actually expands to off-campus housing and can discipline students in the most severe cases. This change in the student handbook occurred in the spring of 2006.
"We always were able to get involved and take misconduct action against students even if the violations occurred off campus, but they intended to be for only two types of things, one if it was a university sponsored function or if the behavior was such that it threatened the health safety and welfare of the URI community," Dougan said.
These instances include selling drugs and committing assault or sexual assault. Dougan described these misconducts as the "extremes."
Dooley has also said there will be another resident hall put in, which will have another 450 rooms, set to open in fall 2012, to try and keep students from moving off campus.
"I think it will help, but won't solve [the off-campus issues]," Dougan said.
The Vice President of Student Affairs Tom Dougan met with the Narragansett town council last month to discuss issues of off-campus student behavior, such as loudness, underage drinking and large crowds. The university is aware of the situation and calls it a problem.
"We know it is getting worse because of the number of police reports and the number of large gatherings," Dougan said.
During the last town council meeting a town council member brought up the idea of an on-campus bar.
"I don't remember any kind of discussion of an on-campus bar," Dougan said. "[URI President David Dooley] said we will be reviewing all policies in regards to alcohol."
Many students may have received disciplinary action for their conduct off campus and are wondering how the school has this ability.
URI's jurisdiction actually expands to off-campus housing and can discipline students in the most severe cases. This change in the student handbook occurred in the spring of 2006.
"We always were able to get involved and take misconduct action against students even if the violations occurred off campus, but they intended to be for only two types of things, one if it was a university sponsored function or if the behavior was such that it threatened the health safety and welfare of the URI community," Dougan said.
These instances include selling drugs and committing assault or sexual assault. Dougan described these misconducts as the "extremes."
Dooley has also said there will be another resident hall put in, which will have another 450 rooms, set to open in fall 2012, to try and keep students from moving off campus.
"I think it will help, but won't solve [the off-campus issues]," Dougan said.
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