Newspapers / St. Andrews University Student … / Oct. 3, 1990, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of St. Andrews University Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
OPINION The Editor’s Desk Jennifer Woodward Alcohol and Designated Areas A couple of weekends ago, I came across a very peculiar incident. The 1 .aurinburg Police were present at the Rugby game. Why? Well, it seems that President Reuschling felt there was a serious problem with alcohol being present at the game. Sure, this may be a problem considering some people havebeen known to bring a beer or two to an athletic event. It's been easy in the past, simply bccause security has not enforced the rules at St. Andrews. Personally, I was not pleased with Reuschling's actions. I lowever, Reuschling did have a point - alcohol is not permitted at any such event. The Alcohol Policy within the Saltire clearly states that alcohol is not prohibited in public areas. "No person shall consume alcoholic beverages in a public area of the campus..." (page 52, section Fi) So what's the problem, folks? Granted the incident at the Rugby game was rather absurd, considering alcohol is common at other similar events. During the game and even after, I heard many people complaining to the fact that alcohol was not allowed. "You mean even if we're 21?" or "Rugby isn't even an athletic event, it's a club." or "You mean even if its in a secondary container we still can't drink?" Well, folks I hate to tell you this, but even in the real world alcohol is not pcnnittcd in certain public areas, so why should St. Andrews be any different? riic only thing I can say to the President is this - if you're going to do it lor one, you better do it for all. I felt it was very unfair that he should single out the Rugby Club, especially since it was their first home match. Also, why involve the Laurinburg Police Department? Do you really feel lliat the Rugby fans are so out of control that our own security force can't handle it? I.et's at least have a little faith! -jlw The Lance Editor Jennifer Woodward Campus Life Editor Sharon Frain Arts and Entertainment Editor Janna Turner Sports Editor J.K. King Staff Joy Berry Marsha Hansen John Cohen Raylene Kaufman Eric Eubank Candy Round Heather Lyn Gupton Photographers Rooney Coffman Raylene Kaufma Jane Karpenske Heather Jenkins Josh Foote Business Manager Adam Whitehead Graphic Designer Garreth Griffith TIIK LANCK is published bi-wcckly at St. Andrews Presbyterian College. I7(X) [>)gwood Mile, Ljurinburg. N.C. 28352, telephone (919)276-3652, extension 300. Opinions expressed in THE LANCE are those of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the College Administration. I'hc publication is free to its recipienLs. COI.LEGE PRESS SERVICE Subscriber Honor Code Ethics By Bill Cox Student Government President "As a member of the Honor Community of St. Andrews, I pledge that I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I tolerate this conduct in any other member of the community. I will do all within my power to up hold the high standard of integrity and honor of St. Andrews." This is your honor code. You will find it on pages 82 of your Saltire in the Rights and Responsi bilities section of the handbook. It is located right after the Preamble of the St. Andrews Code of Responsi bility, a statement which insures freedom of choice and expression for the students of this college. These statements form the basis for the St. Andrews community as it exists today. The honor code gives us a guideline to live by and the Code of Responsibility obligates each indi vidual to "struggle with principles of conduct and to accept full responsi bility for his/lier own actions and decisions" as we try to develop and mature into adults. These are lofty ideals to subscribe to, but every person involved with St. Andrews is charged with the same responsibilities and the same codes. The honor code is not something that is picked up when you enter a classroom and shed as you walk back across the l^e; neither, is the code of responsibility present only to give students a right to decide if they want to drink on a weekend. These codes are present and obli gating at all times for all people involved with St. Andrews. In the past few years there have been a significant number of people who have expressed a concern that the Honor Code has not been fol lowed, that it is not strong enough, and that we need to work on a new system. There are those who believe nobody takes the honor code seri ously and that we should do away with it completely. Others have said that the punishments for honor code violations are too serious and should be reexamined. Those who are afraid that the honor code is not being followed need to take a good look at them selves, and around them. The honor code at St. Andrews should repre sent the belief in a way of life. The simple words that denounce lying, cheating, and stealing really do cover all aspects of campus life, both aca demic and social. It is up to each individual to police themselves be fore they look to their friends. I will grant, it is a heavy charge to carry, but as maturing adults it is up to us to shoulder the responsibility. If every individual were to fol low the honor code then there would be no need for our courts or com plaints. Sadly enough, however, there are those who for one reason or another fi..d themselves in violation of the honor code. If an individual is found guilty of an honor violation, they could be expelled from the school This has not happened in quite some time. The minimum punishment for a violation is social probation for twelve months. This is a little more common. Social probation prevents an individual from participating in any extracurricular activities. This includes clubs, campus parties, and inter-collegiate sports. The implica tion is that if an individual depend ent on a scholarship due to social probation which would prevent them from participating in their extracur ricular activity. Thus, they could be forced for financial reasons to leave school for breaking a simple rule. In trying to settle the main fear, a student cannot lose a scholarship unless there has been a review by the scholarship committee. Thus, if an individual has been prevented from an activity and has a scholarship based on that activity, the scholar ship cannot be taken away automati cally. On an ideological level, one must ask should we change our standard for the honor code simply because a person may be taken away from an activity for a "small" offense. In my mind there is no small breach of the honor code. A violation is a viola tion. The principles are the same no matter what has happend. Further, the code of responsiblity dictates that we be fully responsible for all of our actions right or wrong. That is the way the real world works and this is a much safer place to learn the lessons found in the real world. I would like to urge all those who read this, to pick up their Saltire and read about these codes once again. Think about your actions, ask why you think the honor code is too weak, why people appear not to follow it, or why you think it is too strong. Ask yourself some questions about your own character and how willing you are to take the responsiblity for your own actions and decisions. When you have done all that, consider that it all starts with you. These codes have helped to create the caring and responsible community which we have. It is up to us to take them to heart, incorporate them into our life styles and make them work for the community and ourselves. Letters to the Editor To the editor; (The opinions expressed repre sent this individual's views and are not necessarily the views of the groups mentioned.) I am writing this letter in hopes that the student body can be made aware of some of the feedback coming from the administration through the words of a student. I am a member of the Student Senate as vice-president of Mecklenburg, and am active in the Rugby club. It is through these two situations that I am expressing my personal views of our administration. The first situation is the policy and attitude I have noticed about the campus and students through the Senate and talking with others. It seems that the President has been very concerned with the appearance of the college. This is a welcome, but somewhat secondary concern. True, there were some maintenance con cerns that were long overdue, how ever, there seems to be more preva lent issues and concerns that need attention. With the high turnover rate of professors over the past three years, I would assume that the fac ulty has some needs that must be ad dressed. I think that most would agree that we could handle old paint on the walls, rather than have the K quality of our education be placed second to these concerns. In the Burris Center, a new direc tor has been put in place. This comes as a welcome and necessary step. The students who live there or are tended to at the center, deserve the highest quality care and attention. It seems that the President again has neglected the needs of these stu dents. Sure, a new roof and a fresh coat of paint is great to look at, but having to wait around for sub-par service is totally unacceptable. I sincerely believe that the new direc tor is qualified enough to turn around an intrical part of the St. Andrews community; that has been allowed, by the administration, to fall way below standards. The next situation that I speak from, is that of being a member of the Rugby Club. Since our concep tion last spring, we have had the loyalty of the student body, and the wonderful and overwhelming sup port of the faculty. On the other hand, we have experienced some scrutiny from the President himself. The President feels that the game of Rugby promotes and encourages the use of alcohol at matches. This was evident in the fact, that the match against Guilford on September 22 was attended by the Laurinburg police at therequestof the President. The fact that the Rugby Club has been successful is as follows (these points came from members and coaches of other Rugby Clubs.) The attendance at the Ganza game last' year, if there was an accurate count, taken, was probably the largest in' the hi.story of North Carolina Rugby. The players from St. Andrews are very sportsmanlike and carry them- selve well - this was relayed to me at the State Tournament last year by one of our officials. Many people- have never heard of St. Andrews but we have had numerous requests to set up matches here at the school so people can get a look at our campus. These are just a few complaints: out of a list that could go on. I am . very pleased with what the President has done financially for the school. If I understand correctly, we are in the best shape that we have enjoyed for quite sometime. The problem I have, and I think we should all make known, is that when it comes down to the bottom line, it is the students and faculty that make St. Andrews, not the administration. Kevin M. Gullette
St. Andrews University Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 3, 1990, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75