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Published in The Spectator, the student newspaper of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire;
Thursday, September 20, 2001
First Roundtable of semester focuses on terrorism, drinking
By Bill Olson
Threats against international students on
and off campus in the wake of terrorist activities on Sept. 11 will not
be tolerated.
That was the message given by Chancellor Donald Mash at the
Chancellor’s Roundtable Wednesday. Mash offered reassurance to
international students, many of whom have endured harassment since the
terrorist bombings in New York and Washington.
Most of the harassment appears to be verbal, Mash said. A shove may have
been the most physical abuse reported.
“We’re trying to remind everyone that this harassment is not
tolerable,” he said.
Mash said he wants people to understand that some of the students who
have been harassed are U.S. citizens, even though they may be from other
countries. All international students are from countries considered to
be United States allies, he said.
Mash commended the campus community for its efforts in the wake of the
terrorist bombings, such as the counseling center for reaching out to
students, the student leadership for organizing a candlelight vigil and
athletes planning to participate in the Relay for Peace.
“For those who know what’s happening, they must be very proud of the
response that our campus is making,” Mash said. “We hope the
harassment of our international students will end.”
The other matter discussed was drinking by the student community.
Mash, who is chair of a UW System-wide task force on alcohol and other
drug abuse, said there appears to be more awareness about the issue of
alcohol and its effects than he had previously encountered during his
higher education career.
Negative things that happen on the campus most often relate to
alcoholism, Mash said.
“This isn’t about trying to push abstinence,” he said. “We’re
targeting most of our activities at the abuse of alcohol, such as binge
drinking.”
Sarah Schuh, a sophomore student senator, said she doesn’t think the
city’s plan to raise fines for underage drinking is an effective way
to deal with house parties.
“It won’t stop house parties from happening, because the people
having them can afford to pay the fines. They can raise the cover
charge,” she said.
Schuh asked what student government or the university can do to work
with the city on this issue and to not make it an “us against them”
situation, which is how she said the city appears to be treating it.
Mash said students could tell the Eau Claire City Council that they are
voting in increasing numbers.
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