The University of New Hampshire is moving forward with plans to minimize student disturbances in Durham.
Over the weekend the University organized a summit to deal with crises like last Spring's riot after a hockey defeat.
New Hampshire Public Radio Correspondent Roger Wood reports from Durham.
THIS PAST WEEKEND'S THREE-DAY STUDENT ORGANIZED SUMMIT WAS TO BEGIN PLANNING FOR A FUTURE WITH FEWER PROBLEMS.
ABOUT 100 STUDENTS FROM UNH AND OTHER COLLEGES IN THE NORTHEAST MET AT THE MEMORIAL UNION BUILDING, TO DISCUSS LAST SPRING?S DISTURBANCES AND HOW TO AVOID
DR. BRUCE MALLORY, UNIVERSITY PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS, SAID RESEARCH HAS LINKED AGGRESSIVE SPORTS EVENTS AND VIOLENT OUTCOMES.
(SOT MALLORY) :10
"AND WHEN STUDENTS, ALUMNI AND OTHERS ARE SO INVESTED IN THE OUTCOME OF A CONTEST, THAT THEIR SELF ESTEEM IS AFFECTED, IT IS MORE LIKELY THAT THERE WILL BE AGGRESSIVE OR VIOLENT RESPONSES."
MALLORY SUMMED UP THE THREE-DAY SUMMIT ON SUNDAY
HE SAID STUDENT INVOLVEMENT WITH SPORTS TEAMS IS IMPORTANT, BUT MUST BE TEMPERED BY REASON.
(SOT MALLORY) :10
"OUR LOYALTY TO OUR ATHLETIC TEAMS CAN BE HEALTHY, WHEN THE FOCUS IS ON THE TEAM AND ITS MEMBERS, NOT WHEN THE FOCUS IS ON WINNING OR LOSING.
ON APRIL 12, AFTER UNH LOST A CHAMPIONSHIP HOCKEY GAME, SOME 4 THOUSAND PEOPLE TOOK TO DURHAM?S STREETS.
OF THE 87 PEOPLE ARRESTED DURING THE DISTURBANCES, 55 WERE UNH STUDENTS.
MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS HAVE ALREADY FACED UNIVERSITY DISCIPLINE.
SOME FACED SUSPENSIONS AND , PROBATIONS.
OTHERS WERE FORCED TO PAY COMPENSATION OR TAKE PART IN COMMUNITY SERVICE.
UNH PROVOST MALLORY BLAMED ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION FOR FUELING THE ASOCIAL AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.
(MALLORY) :19
"I'VE LEARNED, ALL OF YOU KNEW ABOUT, THIS NOTION OF THIRSTY THURSDAYS, AND CONSUMPTION BEGINS EARLY IN THE MORNING ON THE DAYS OF ATHLETIC EVENTS AT SOME CAMPUSES. IT SEEMS MALES ARE MORE LIKELY TO PERPETUATE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN RIOTS. FEMALES ALSO PARTICIPATE IN ASOCIAL BEHAVIOR, ESPECIALLY WHEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL."
UNH PRESIDENT ANNE WEAVER HART ADDED THAT SHE IS CONCERNED WITH MORE THAN JUST THE VIOLENCE OF LAST APRIL.
SHE SAID THERE A LOWER LEVEL OF DISRESPECT BY SOME STUDENTS TOWARD THE TOWN AND ITS RESIDENTS.
BUT THE WEEKEND LONG SUMMIT ALSO FOCUSED ON THE POTENTIAL FOR DEFUSING SUCH SITUATIONS.
THE GROUP DREW UP A LIST OF SHORT AND LONG TERM PLANS.
THEY WANT TO FIND BETTER WAYS OF COMMUNITICATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TOWN OFFICIALS.
THEY WANT TO CONTROL ACCESS TO AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL.
AND THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR WAYS TO RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF ONLOOKERS WHO MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEMS.
ADMITTEDLY, IT'S A PROCESS THAT COULD TAKE TIME, ACCORDING TO CATHERINE CLARKE, UNH STUDENT SENATE VICE PRESIDENT.
(SOT CLARKE) :15
"THE VALUE OF THE SUMMIT IS NOT ONLY SHORT TERM, BUT IT'S ALSO LONG TERM. THIS IS THE VERY BEGINNING IN A VERY LONG PROCESS THAT'S GOING TO BE CULTURE CHANGE?AND STUDENTS REALLY EVALUATING WHAT'S GOING ON ON OUR CAMPUSES AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO CHANGE THAT.
AND ITS ALSO A PROCESS THAT UNH PRESIDENT ANNE WEAVER HART WANTS TO SEE BEGIN RIGHT AWAY,
(SOT HART) :25
"AND SO I WOULD CHALLENGE ALL OF US TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE NOW IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE OF THIS SUMMIT. AND AS WE CLOSE OUR DIALOGUE TODAY, WE TAKE WITH US THE RESOLVE THAT THE FRIENDSHIPS WE HAVE MADE OVER THIS WEEKEND, THE IDEAS WE HAVE SHARED TOGETHER, NOW WILL BECOME PERSISTENT AND ONGOING ACTIONS IN EACH OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND EACH OF OUR CAMPUSES."
ALREADY, THE UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT SENATE HAS TAKEN SOME STEPS TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE SUMMIT?S RECOMMENDATIONS.
IT VOTED TO ESTABLISH AN AD-HOC STUDENT COMMITTEE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH TOWN OFFICIALS TO ANTICIPATE OF CELEBRATIONS SURROUNDING SPORTS EVENTS.
AND SUMMIT ORGANIZERS ARE PREPARING A DRAFT REPORT OF ITS CONCLUSIONS TO BE PUBLISHED SOMETIME THIS FALL.
FOR NHPR NEWS, THIS IS ROGER WOOD.
