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New position tackles off-campus relations |
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Thursday, 18 October 2007 |
 | McDevitt
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by EMILY MELTON
Intern News Reporter
Kendal B. McDevitt, a Naropa University graduate with a master’s degree in Somatic Psychology, has recently accepted the new position of the coordinator for off-campus community relations at Appalachian State University.
The new position requires McDevitt to focus on three areas of off-campus student life: housing (including that of transfer students), informing students of conduct issues, and the Town of Boone and Appalachian State University Town and Gown relations.
McDevitt works with students to find adequate off-campus housing and roommates.
She creates better systems of dialogue between students and their
landlords, answering any questions that the students may have.
“This semester, there’s been a real problem with housing,” said McDevitt. “There’s just not enough of it.”
McDevitt also wishes to promote the connectedness of off-campus students with campus activities.
“Students have so many opportunities to get involved. They can join
clubs, come to events, spend time on campus, and simply eat lunch with
their friends in the cafeteria,” said McDevitt.
“Being an off-campus student, I feel like I do a pretty good job with
staying connected to Appalachian’s community,” said Nick Povia, a
sophomore business marketing major and resident of University
Highlands.
“I stay connected by playing [University Recreation] sports. I’m
involved with an intramural flag football team at the moment,” said
Povia.
Whenever a student receives a certain conduct violation at their
off-campus residence, McDevitt is forwarded the information of the
report from local Watauga County courts.
She then sends the affected student information to educate him or her of consequences of the violation.
“At Appalachian, students should have fun,” said McDevitt, “But there’s
a fine line between having fun and getting an underage drinking ticket.”
“When students receive a drinking violation, for example, I send them a
letter explaining what to do next. Some students aren’t aware of many
laws and the consequences they must face for breaking them. I’m here to
help; students can come to me with questions and suggestions for the
new off-campus community relations program.”
McDevitt will soon assist Nathan H. Smith of the Student Government
Association to establish an official committee to maintain better
communication between the Town of Boone and Appalachian State
University.
“Hopefully, the Town and Gown Committee will create a positive
relationship between the Town of Boone and the university,” said Nathan
H. Smith, a junior political science major. “I look forward to working
with McDevitt on this issue.”
This semester, McDevitt organized a Meet and Greet, a project that
formed a volunteer staff to visit over 1,600 off-campus apartments to
donate bags filled with information regarding health and safety,
emergency telephone numbers, and alcohol awareness.
The volunteers asked apartment residences to promote the Lock the Door campaign by displaying stickers on their doors.
McDevitt will also help the Appalachian and the Community Together
office with the Don’t Throw it Away community service project in May.
Gently-used furniture and home appliances will be collected from campus
dorms, cleaned, and resold at The Big Sale at the beginning of the
spring semester.
Ultimately, McDevitt wishes to improve the relationship between
off-campus students with the students, events, and organizations on
Appalachian’s campus.
“I welcome students to contact me; I am always here if they need assistance.”
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