ASUO officials have proposed additional office hours for student leaders, the formation of a retreat committee to prevent future violations, possible community service on campus and restitution of the student fees used on the Sunriver retreat to punish attendees for violating the student conduct code by consuming marijuana and alcohol on the trip.
The proposal, which was sent to Student Judicial Affairs Director Chris Loschiavo Friday, is awaiting his approval before it can be voted on at a public meeting, ASUO Vice President Mena Ravassipour said. When the vote will take place is still unknown.
The proposal outlines what steps have been taken and what ASUO officials will do in the future to reprimand those who violated the student conduct code — and subsequently Oregon Administrative Rules — by smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol on the Oct. 8-10 retreat.
Because the ASUO is taking responsibility as a group for the conduct code violations, it is up to the group to decide what actions warrant what punishments, Ravassipour said.
ASUO Public Relations Director Nathan Strauss and Ravassipour are unsure how the decision to draft a group punishment was reached, but Strauss said there seemed to be a consensus that because they are all student leaders, “it was just the responsible thing to do.”
ASUO officials previously suggested the possibility of cleaning MacArthur Court after basketball games to help fundraise the approximately $3,200 in student fees that were spent on housing and transportation for the retreat, but the sign-up deadline for cleaning has passed, Ravassipour said. Both Ravassipour and Strauss said they are unaware of any other fundraising possibilities.
Attendees are still looking to repay the funds, Strauss said, but it is unclear how viable an option that will be because of the possible lack of fundraising opportunities available.
Additional office hours for retreat attendees would provide more time for students to voice their concerns, Strauss said.
The proposal outlines the plan for the creation of a retreat committee. Discussions were started informally last year between members of different governing bodies but ended with the conclusion of the school year, ASUO Accounting Coordinator Jennifer Creighton-Neiwert said.
“The committee will address the obvious need for new policy governing fee-funded retreats,” the proposal reads.
According to the proposal, the committee will look at preventing dangerous situations on retreats, notifying attendees of the rules to follow on retreats and ensuring student money is used in a “fiscally responsible” way in funding retreats.
Strauss said the ASUO will make a “Do’s and Don’ts” video for future retreat attendees, demonstrating what behavior is acceptable at retreats and what the consequences of unacceptable behavior could be.
He added that there has not been a concentrated effort from ASUO officials to uncover the identity of the person who wrote the inappropriate note that was left in one of the Sunriver house guest books because the note is not considered a very pressing issue.
There is no solid evidence that would identify the person, only hearsay and rumors, Ravassipour said.
“If that person wants to come forward and take responsibility, that’s their decision,” Strauss said.
If that happens, Ravassipour said the person will be dealt with in however the ASUO deems appropriate.
Loschiavo will not be on campus this week, something both Ravassipour and Strauss said they were unaware of but they didn’t think it would put a damper on the discipline process.
The punishment process is more focused on finding ways to prevent conduct code violations from occurring at future retreats rather than reprimanding individuals for their past actions, Ravassipour said.
“We want to focus on looking toward the future,” Ravassipour said.

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