Student government leaders who violated the Student Conduct Code during an October Sunriver retreat will probably not pay back the approximately $3,200 in incidental fees used to pay for the annual trip. ASUO officials told the Emerald in an Oct. 28 interview that retreat participants would refund the money used on the fall finance retreat through fundraisers or garnishing wages.
The ASUO admitted multiple
retreat attendees smoked marijuana and drank alcohol on the Oct.
10-12 trip but has refused to disclose their names or how many students were involved.
ASUO Public Relations Director Nathan Strauss said Wednesday
that some members of the ASUO do not support repayment of the
money used to pay for the trip, and that while repayment is still a possibility, it may not be feasible to raise the funds.
“Some of us feel it sends the message that the purpose of this retreat was not fulfilled,” Strauss said.
Senate President James George said ASUO members wanted to focus on goals that would benefit multiple groups, such as the creation of a retreat committee and a “dos and don’ts” video.
“We didn’t want our focus to be fundraising to erase the fact that the retreat did happen,” he said.
ASUO officials said in a Nov. 22 interview that they previously proposed cleaning McArthur Court to raise money to pay back the student fees used for the retreat, but had discovered that the sign-up deadline had already passed.
In a letter delivered to Student Judicial Affairs Director Chris Loschiavo on Nov. 19, retreat attendees proposed paying back all of the incidental fee funds used on the trip, the forming of a retreat committee, the creation of the video for future retreats, community service and additional office hours for student leaders as punishments.
Loschiavo approved of the committee, video and community
service. Repayment was not included in the final agreement because it would not be feasible to raise the money or to even determine how much money would be appropriate since most of the activities on the retreat were productive.
Details about where and when the student leaders will perform community service remain unclear. Potential opportunities may include working in the West University neighborhood and participating in University Day, an annual campus beautification project held in the spring, Loschiavo said.
Strauss said the ASUO doesn’t have an official history with University Day, noting that ASUO members’ participation in the event “would be above and beyond.”
Officials plan to create a committee to provide guidance for future retreats, an idea discussed among different branches of student government in winter and spring 2004 but never enacted.
The “dos and don’ts” video will be for all student groups who will go on future retreats as well. Loschiavo said the committee and video will benefit all students by preventing future problems at retreats.
Strauss said the group will probably still require additional office hours for student leaders who attended the retreat. He said the extra hours are designed to prove to students that ASUO officials are serious about resolving retreat issues and are serious about their positions.
Strauss said student leaders will meet today to create a concrete plan for carrying out the punishments.
Loschiavo said he will oversee the group as it completes its punishment, which he hopes will be completed by the end of the academic year.
Student leaders committed the violations almost three months ago, but Loschiavo said the ASUO took “more or less” the typical amount of time for a group to create its
punishment, noting that some groups have more experience with the disciplinary process than others. He said the ASUO has never been punished in this way, so group members did not know what to expect. Loschiavo added that many branches of the student government were involved, so members had to coordinate with one another.
Loschiavo said he tried not to propose punishments for the ASUO leaders and instead allowed them to create ideas to help them learn from their mistakes.
“It’s never easy to come up with a punishment for yourself,” he said.
Loschiavo commended the group for initially coming forward and admitting its wrongdoings.
“Overall, I was very happy with the approach the ASUO took in addressing this matter,” he said. “I think we’ll look back and say this is how self-government is supposed to work.”
George said he’s looking forward to progressing with the ASUO’s plan as the new term starts.
“Thus far, I’m glad we’ve come to a point where we have some direct goals,” George said.
Strauss said the punishment process is nearing its end.
“I basically feel like we are on the verge of getting this closed,” he said.

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