Changes to Chapter 17

Changes have been made to Chapter 17. One of the most significant changes is universities in the UW System are allowed to punish students for off-campus offenses. The changes took effect on Sept. 1. Reactions to the changes have been varied throughout the state. While some students claim to be infuriated at the thought of being punished by their university for off-campus offenses, supporters of the changes feel that it will make campuses safer. With the policy changes made to Chapter 17, students should expect to see different repercussions for their actions. "If you get in trouble off campus you can be punished academically for it, such as noise complaints, disorderly conduct and things like that," said Joe Tyrrell, Student Government Association President. "Not only would you be able to be prosecuted by the city, but the university, itself, could do something about it." The changes may sound overwhelming, but it appears that many of them won't affect UW-Green Bay students. "It gives them the option, but I think every school will be able to adjust to what they think is important," Tyrrell said. Mark Olkwoski, judicial affairs coordinator, stated punishments are reserved for repeated behaviors. He said the revisions made to Chapter 17 are aimed at larger schools that have a greater number of students living within communities. There have been many cases where community members make complaints about their student neighbors, and the revised Chapter 17 allows the university to punish students for inappropriate actions. Jonathon Schiesser, a senior German major, believes that the wording of Chapter 17 is vague,which could lead to abuse of the policy. "It sounds like Madison and Milwaukee are going to get hit by the changes," Schiesser said. "It doesn't seem fair to students." "Chapter 17 was worded in a vague manner in order to successfully grow with changing times and technologies," Olkowski said. Olkowski stated there were references to beepers in the old version of Chapter 17 and the changes will be more successful for many years.

Many students at UWGB are commuters, which would make it difficult for the campus to work with receiving reports from police departments in the different areas where students live, Olkowski said. In the past, SGA held an opposing view on Chapter 17, but it's view has changed with it's confidence in UWGB's administration. "Traditionally, we have been outraged because it's not the school's place to be doing that kind of stuff," Tyrrell said. "The way that we're expecting UWGB to handle it is a good way to go about it." Many of the infractions that students who live on-campus face fall under the housing rules instead of under Chapter 17, Olkowski said. He is glad to have the finalized version for fall semester so that the new policies would be used for the entire year. "The last changes made to Chapter 17 took place 10 years ago," Olksowski said. The current changes required much planning over the course of three years to create a final policy." After the first draft was written, public hearings were held in Madison, Milwaukee and Steven's Point, allowing community members and students to voice their opinions. The draft was then sent to the Board of Regents where a few more changes were implemented. State Legislature was required to approve the changes before the new policy could be put to use. There were many minor changes made to the policy that will help different processes work more efficiently. In the past, students would receive notices only in their mailboxes, but now they will be sent out on paper and electronically. "The changes are good because it needed a face lift," Olkowski said. "It's changed in a more beneficial way." SGA encourages students to give feedback and share their thoughts on the different topics that affect the student body. "We don't know what the student's opinions are," Tyrrell said. "We wish students would be more aware to deal with these sorts of things."