Here are summaries of the 10 recommendations proposed by the Chancellor's
Task Force on Substance Abuse and adopted by the Board of Trustees:
The Division of Student Affairs should propose disciplinary sanctions,
including removal of persistent substance abusers from the University
community. Carolina also must distinguish between students who
are administratively referred to Student Health Services for substance
abuse counseling and those who seek counseling on their own, the
report said. It called for noncooperative, repeat substance abusers
to be subject to new disciplinary sanctions. Students with substance
abuse problems should be encouraged to seek counseling on their
own without risk of punitive action and be given the most help
possible from Student Health Services.
Applicants should be educated about UNC's serious academic mission,
truths and myths about substance abuse on campus. Students accepted
at Carolina also should be informed of the consequences of alcohol
and drug abuse, including legal ramifications.
Freshman orientation should be lengthened to emphasize healthy
lifestyle choices and negative aspects of substance abuse. Ideally,
a one-hour, for-credit course could be offered stressing legal
problems substance abuse can cause as students pursue careers.
Faculty and sports coaches could be role models.
Alternative social programs for the first six weeks of fall semester
should be planned so new students can develop a sense of community
and have outlets other than fraternity and sorority rush activities
and the local bar scene. The report praised efforts by the Chancellor's
Committee on Greek Affairs and the Interfraternity Council to
shorten rush and make it alcohol-free, as well as other measures
to assure that only those participating in rush can attend parties.
On-campus housing should be increased for students who agree to
live substance-free. Those students should be rewarded with assignments
to the most desired residence halls. (Ehringhaus Residence Hall
now has a wellness floor that requires residents to sign a pledge
to live alcohol-, drug- and tobacco-free.)
Freshmen should be encouraged to develop structure within their
newfound freedom. Most committee members agreed that freshmen
should have 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. classes with only a limited number
of excused absences. Encouraging faculty to give more exams on
Fridays to "keep students aware of the total academic week and
the seriousness of academic purpose of this institution" also
was suggested.
Alcoholic beverage advertising during broadcasts of Tar Heel Sports
Network radio broadcasts should be prohibited. The task force
suggested that Carolina propose a similar policy to the Atlantic
Coast Conference.
The task force endorsed ongoing efforts by campus police to enforce
UNC alcohol and drug statutes and encouraged alumni and friends
who drink alcoholic beverages in Chapel Hill to do so responsibly
and be good role models.
The task force should be maintained as an ongoing entity because
it addresses a continuing problem.
Reports should be made in a timely fashion to trustees about carrying
out the recommendations.
