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april 2007 features the stentorian \ ncssm * 0 »' ... in New Orleans iji 2006 After a week of ' fixing houses, painting playgrounds and some sightseeing, Polly* and two friends explored another part of Louisiana culture. “Anyone who’s been to New Orleans knows that there’s alcohol everywhere,” Polly said. “There’s drive-in daiquiri places and bars at every comer and in between. [My friends] ■ just walked up to a drive-through and bought daiquiris. We drank them walking around the French Quarter.” Polly only took a few sips of her friends’ drinks, but once backint school after Spring Break she came face to face with the school’s zero-tolerance policy. “One person’s boyfriend took the AIM conversation they had about the trip and turned it in,” Polly said. “I told them I didn’t know anything about it because I thought it receMUnBDijRairweekends, live set-um3||a mandate to attend an alcohol clir she pai^ Despite hei||2pj|||^ents, Polly doeS her few sips of j “I regret ^ ng something to deserve my sane [|drinking.’ ...in Italy j In a country v^ere tlS^iKng 16, students are still required toif(rii4HHRHHBn4^ct policy, but temptation often arises when alcohol is easy to obtain. “I went out to a bar over Mini-Term and drank with a group of friends,” Chase* said. “We all wanted to go out and have a good time while we had the chance.” “I threw up in'flA elevator,- anditfSpaniard informed the 11^^ ^|k,”|^j|a||^id| “The ohi^ro^t^/^^ihen notified and they nnira ml ill my foomf and there was no question whether or not t Was intoxicated.” Once back in the country. Chase says that only he went through the trials and was sentenced for tliat night’s excursion, despite the number of students on the trip he saySjW^Pjd^a^. , , - , ; “Pretty mucL eveiy'one on our trip drank.” said . 11 if I' ( I . i » ' c Lucy*, another student on the 7006 Italy Mini-Term trip. “I can only think of two people who didn’t and th«e were probably 12 or more of us on the trip.” * Names have been changed-j( Note from thf editors: These are the gto^^and^ajffons of a few students and*tfc BWld[4Micntjlia sfUdisifWfiy^^inions or actions as a whole. Each of these events occurred in 2006 before restrictions on supervision were reemphasized. Proactive policy formalizes Mini- Term expectations By Amy Bryson As students travel across the country and world over Mini-Term, some have chosen to visit a local bar and drink. “Whenever our students are traveling anywhere, the basic expectation is that all of our student Code of Conduct rales be followed as if [the students] were on campus,” said Tom Clayton, director of academic programs and head of Mini-Term. Chaperone supervision was reemphasized for Mini-Term this year. Chaperones are required to remain with students at all times at night and have direct access in a delimited area during the day. There were no reported incidents involving Mini-Term this year. In the past, the student Code of Conduct expectations for Mini-Term were in place, but over the years have been formally written down. The specific Mini-Term policy is available orJine, stating, “All the basic expectations for student behavior at NCSSM—^from meeting specified curfews to prohibition on alcohol and sexual activity— apply on Mini-Term trips, with violators to be addressed under the Code of Student Conduct. Prior to departure, trip sponsors should discuss stanWds of betovior with their students and develop a contract for responsible behavior to be signed by each student and her/his parents.” Through this policy, a signed contract between students and sponsors, and a mandatory meeting held before departure, students are aware of school regulations and sanctions for violations. “There was a mandatory meeting for anyone who was traveling during mini term in which the rales were explained by [Michael] Reidy,” Chase* said. “It was no ambiguous matter concerning drinking and the consequences. The rales are the same as if one were still at school.” This year the student behavior policies were updated to be more specific and to clearly state rales. “Traveling to areas where students can obtain alcohol, we are being proactive, trying to stay on top of [drinking during mini-term],” Clayton said. “We want to spell out to students and parents that there are particular guidelines and expectations.” However, some students view this policy as more of an unrealistic limitation. “I think that [drinking] should be allowed in countries where the kids are above the drinking age,” Lucy* said. “It’s part of the experience of going to this different culture; drinking is part of the European experience. I understand safety concerns, but there are ways that it could be managed without eliminating drinking altogether.” However, safety isn’t the only reason for these policies. “\^en we are traveling, the reality is it is even more important that we present ourselves well so that not to harm students or the reputation of the school,” Clayton said. Administration feels this policy has been effective and that there have not been substantial violation problems. Clayton said he does not recall a year of more than one or two infringements. “We have not kept stats [of (iinking over Mini-Term] because it hasn’t been a problem,” he said. “There have only been notable examples over the years. We have had both examples of instances that have been reported and charged, as well as rumors that have not had enough evidence to [lead to] charges. It’s not that we are not aware, it’s that it is not so much an issue. Drinking is not an outrageous, over-the-top issue here either on campus or during trips.” Some students, however, paint a different picture of this issue. “I didn’t think it was that big of a deal,” said Polly*, who drank during her Mini- Term trip last year and says that she received sanctions, (see sidebar) Because of such incidents, many students feel the policy is ineffective and unrealistic. “I think flieir rales are irrelevant when so far away from campus and especially when in a foreign country whose laws permit a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old to drink legally,” Chase said. “I feel like it’s a precarious situation to place a kid in, and 1 think everyone would benefit under a different system. The chaperones simply can’t monitor everyone closely enough to prevent drinking and still allow the trip to be truly enjoyable. If the chaperones try to exert too much control, everyone gets frustrated and the trip is made almost a waste of money.” Despite the disagreements of these students, Clayton backs the policy and remains optimistic about Mini-Term. “I hopo exjjectations are clear,” he said. “My goal is [for students] to have a safe, fun and education Mim-Term experience, not interrupted by any judicial instances.” * Names have been changed. WIESEL: trip provides life lessons Continued from page 2 At the weekly classes, the group discussed Night and learned about Wiesel and the Jewish religion. Tougas believes that the nearly 50 foople who took the class were testimonials to the power of Wiesel’s life. “He inspires generosity in poople,” she said. “It’s good for your heart.” WieseTs appearance came on the tenth anniversary of the ECHO Foundation. In 1997, after Wiesel spoke in front of 23,000 poople in Charlotte, he offered money to bring speakers and programs to the area to develop his message. The ECHO Foimdation began with this seed money. according touts website. Senior Jeremy Steimnan said that the group, which met weekly to prepjare for the trip, was very diverse in terms of “religion, sexual orientation and age” but that Wiesel brought them together. “We all had a common goal,”hesaid. “Weallwanted to make a difference.” Steinman asked 3\^esel about the new translation of Night, the book that inspired him to take the class and trip. “It’s really given me a different p>ersp»ective on life,” he said. “Someone else had it much worse than I did.” Vestal said that most of the weekly sessions ended with someone crying. She said that there were days when they would walk down the hallway and “no one could say a word.” “For me, it’s been an emotional roller coaster,” she said. But, Vestal said the group learned to suppxirt each other through the difficult material and activities, and that they were inspired to do more. “It’s not just about the Holocaust, it’s about what’s going on today in the world. There are so many pieople being oppressed,” she said. “We still need to help out and prevent [the Holocaust] from hap^ning again.”
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Student Newspaper
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April 1, 2007, edition 1
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