Double jeopardy
UW System should refrain from punishing off-campus students
Issue date: 4/2/07 Section: Editorial/Opinion
THE ISSUE: The UW System is discussing changing its code of conduct to combat off-campus misbehavior.
An Eau Claire city police officer cannot ticket a speeder outside of their jurisdiction, which rightfully leaves the punishing to the state trooper. However, it would be unfair for the state to allow both state and city police to double ticket a driver.
The same principle should hold true for UW-Eau Claire policy.
According to an article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the UW System is looking into expanding its code of conduct to punish off-campus students caught doing illegal things. This is the result of years of complaints of non-college residents living in college neighborhoods around UW-Milwaukee, Eau Claire, Stevens Point and La Crosse, according to the article.
If someone decides to move near campus housing, they should know the risks associated with the college off-campus atmosphere and should not expect the same tranquility found in a middle class suburb. Still, everyone living in the neighborhood needs to respect its condition and reputation, as no college student or other resident wants to be pelted with beer bottles or have their windows broken.
If the illegal offense is committed off-campus, it is out of the university's jurisdiction for punishment. The university can punish students living on campus because they are paying to stay on university property, whereas off-campus students are not paying the university to live in their houses. If the vandalism isn't on university property, the responsibility of punishment shifts to the city of Eau Claire.
Forcing students to pay double when they can barely pay for one ticket is unfair and will not stop drunken belligerency. It is also unfair to label the majority of college students as reckless when it is a small percentage at each school that is ruining the school and student body's reputations.
Everyone needs to respect the living space and privacy of their neighbors and accept responsibility for their actions, but in turn the neighbors and System should understand that asking a university to step outside its jurisdiction would do nothing to solve a problem with no solution.
An Eau Claire city police officer cannot ticket a speeder outside of their jurisdiction, which rightfully leaves the punishing to the state trooper. However, it would be unfair for the state to allow both state and city police to double ticket a driver.
The same principle should hold true for UW-Eau Claire policy.
According to an article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the UW System is looking into expanding its code of conduct to punish off-campus students caught doing illegal things. This is the result of years of complaints of non-college residents living in college neighborhoods around UW-Milwaukee, Eau Claire, Stevens Point and La Crosse, according to the article.
If someone decides to move near campus housing, they should know the risks associated with the college off-campus atmosphere and should not expect the same tranquility found in a middle class suburb. Still, everyone living in the neighborhood needs to respect its condition and reputation, as no college student or other resident wants to be pelted with beer bottles or have their windows broken.
If the illegal offense is committed off-campus, it is out of the university's jurisdiction for punishment. The university can punish students living on campus because they are paying to stay on university property, whereas off-campus students are not paying the university to live in their houses. If the vandalism isn't on university property, the responsibility of punishment shifts to the city of Eau Claire.
Forcing students to pay double when they can barely pay for one ticket is unfair and will not stop drunken belligerency. It is also unfair to label the majority of college students as reckless when it is a small percentage at each school that is ruining the school and student body's reputations.
Everyone needs to respect the living space and privacy of their neighbors and accept responsibility for their actions, but in turn the neighbors and System should understand that asking a university to step outside its jurisdiction would do nothing to solve a problem with no solution.
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