More violatios reported in residence
Morgan Modjeski, Staff
A record number of students violated U of M residence rules in 2006-07, according to the annual report from the university’s discipline committee released in February 2008.
Of the 385 reported incidents of inappropriate behaviour on campus, 163 were breaches of residence hall regulations — the highest numbers in the five years of data available.
In 2005-06, there were 92 breaches of residence regulations, 70 in 2005-06, 134 in 2004-03 and 101 in 2003-02.
Some violations were as minor as not wearing pants in a student lounge or putting fruit in a mailbox.
“It’s a violation of community standards to place a piece of fruit in someone’s mailbox,” said Joe Danis, director of housing and student life.
Other violations were more dangerous, such as the stealing of a fire-hose and letting a homeless person sleep in the student lounge.
Danis said that, although there were more violations committed, the increase can also be attributed to an increase in reporting.
“The reasons the reporting and formal follow-up of incidents has increased is due to three people doing the job that was previously done by one person,” said Danis.
Two years ago, the University of Manitoba began hiring professional residence life co-ordinators who are responsible for hiring, training and supervising residence advisors.
They are also responsible for the reporting and formal follow-up that is involved with the taking of disciplinary action on residence students.
There are now three professional residence life co-ordinators for the roughly 1,200 students living in Tache Hall, Arthur Mauro, University College and Mary Speechly residences.
All students living in residence are required to sign a contract indicating that they will abide by the conditions, policies and regulations of the residence housing agreement — a 15-page document.
The document states, “Residence recognizes that we need rules to protect both common property and private property. The cost of willful or negligent damage will be assigned to those who are responsible. Theft, vandalism, littering, and misuse or misappropriation of University property threaten the general well-being of the community and may constitute grounds for expulsion.”
Danis added that the department of housing and student life has a responsibility to take disciplinary measures on students who violate the regulations but that they also hold students accountable for their own good.
“The goal of holding students accountable is for their own security and safety,” said Danis. “That is the priority of our unit.”
