Beth Bliss , News Editor

A report to the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees last Friday presented Chancellor Francis T. Borkowski's reactions to 44 recommendations made last spring by the University Task Force on Student Life. In a memorandum to the university community, Borkowski listed his approvals, disapprovals and deferments and offered reasons for each action.

Borkowski approved 22 of the 44 task force recommendations. The chancellor also endorsed three recommendations made by the task force that have already been implemented through other departments or committees, he said.

Remaining suggestions were deferred for further study or were not approved.

Approved task force recommendations propose changes in policy or implementation of new policies regarding student drug and alcohol use and abuse, conduct of and policies for student athletes, and residence life.

Borkowski approved the task force suggestion that public intoxication be added as a violation to the university's student code of conduct.

In a comment to the recommendation, Borkowski said, "In that the code already prevents the use of alcohol except inside the students' rooms by those of drinking age, a comparable policy should be developed to address the behavior of students who are inebriated in public."

Alcohol use was also addressed in an approved recommendation to implement substance abuse awareness programs for incoming freshmen and transfer students and new faculty and staff.

The task force also reviewed policies regarding conduct and discipline of university athletes, calling for revision of the Student Athlete Handbook, Wellness Programs for Athletes and Policies for Visits by Recruits.

Borkowski approved the suggestion, explaining in his memorandum that such review is integral to "ensure the desired purpose of developing student athletes into positive role models."

The task force also suggested increased accountability of coaches for athletes in major violation of university policy.

However, Borkowski simply endorsed the recommendation, explaining that policy changes in the Student Athletic Code have already compensated for such need.

Other task force suggestions approved by the chancellor include a yearly teach-in to be held in association with the annual Walk for Awareness; closer contact between University Police and residence life staff "to ensure uniformity of policy enforcement"; and the addition of more 8:00 a.m. and more Friday classes to ASU's selection of courses.

Resident voting for dorm visitation policies and 24-hour i.d. card access to residence halls also stemmed from task force recommendation; Borkowski approved these recommendations before the start of the semester to allow for implementation this year. Suggestions denied by Borkowski in his memorandum include required Freshman Seminar classes; development of a special fund to assist sexual assault victims with all medical expenses following an assault; and development of a "point system" for students wishing to retain on-campus housing privileges.

In his memorandum, Borkowski explained reasons for denying a recommendation. "Some of the recommendations of the task force, although well-intentioned, in my judgment conflict with the best interests of students or the university," Borkowski said.

Borkowski said he originally charged the task force to "develop a greater sense of civility on campus, heighten understanding of what it takes to be a student, and limit possibility of (campus) crimes," he said.

"I asked them to take a look at (our) environment and give me recommendations," Borkowski said. ""They called attention to a number of (existing) issues. The committee was broad-based."

Borkowski said the approved recommendations will be reviewed at the end of the academic year to assess their success. "I don't want (the recommendations) to just sit there," he said.

The chancellor's 25-member task force, composed of 19 faculty and staff and 7 student leaders, was originally charged to examine all issues related to student life, according to Director of Housing and committee co-chairperson Brad Reid.

Reid said the committee formed last February in response to criticism and concern that Appalachian improperly handled three alleged sexual assaults that occurred on and off campus during the last school year.

The committee broke into four sub-committees to further research the charge. Reid said the task force thoroughly investigated student life to provide the chancellor with a list of "solid recommendations" last spring.

Despite this, Reid knew the recommendations would not solve all campus problems. "(The task force) knew we could not please everybody when we set out with this," Reid said.

Task force member and Inter-Fraternity Council president Mason Reuter believes the task force met its charge. "We did what we were asked," Reuter said. "We gave recommendations to the chancellor (regarding how) to make Appalachian a better place."

Graduate student and Coffey Hall residence director Maria Zale, also a member of the task force, agrees with Reuter. Zale said task force sub-committees searched the Internet, read newspaper articles and corresponded with other colleges and universities to develop recommendations for improving the ASU community.

"(We) recognized that the university community was falling down around us and that we needed something to bring people's pride back to Appalachian," Zale said.

"Students need to realize that they are not just students, they are members of the Appalachian community," she said.

The Task Force on Student Life is not a standing committee. At present, there are no plans to reconvene the committee for further work.

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