Mass emails sent out last Thursday by University of Massachusetts officials emphasized the importance of students behaving responsibly this spring.

Two separate emails, one received by undergraduate students and the other by their parents, were sent by Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life Jean Kim, according to a University release. The messages were sent as part of the campaign aimed at improving public safety.

According to the release, the messages and the campaign are among measures being taken by the UMass administration this spring in addressing concerns about large-scale disturbances and student behavior.

In her email to the students, Kim wrote: “As spring arrives, the weather encourages opportunities to gather and socialize. In the coming weeks, please remember that you are a representative of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Your actions dictate the reputation of the institution, and by extension, the value of your degree.

“While the vast majority of UMass Amherst students act responsibly every
day both on campus and in the surrounding communities,—for those students
who violate the University Code of Student Conduct or the Town of
Amherst bylaws, the consequences are significant and can be lasting,” Kim’s message continues.

The consequences, the email stated, can include suspension, removal from campus housing and expulsion. The email stated that following an incident involving poor conduct, disciplinary records are kept “on file for 7 years after date of the incident, reportable to prospective employers, graduate and professional schools, federal government, study abroad organizations, scholarship committees, etc.”

Reported incidents involving alcohol consumption require students to be referred to the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) program, including a mandatory fee of $100. Additionally, according to Kim’s email, upon first report of indecent conduct involving alcohol, parents are notified.

In the email sent to parents, according to the release, Kim stated: “We ask that you also have a direct conversation with your student about your expectations and remind them that the Code of Student Conduct applies to behavior both on and off campus.” Kim added that parents should “remind your student that when the police arrive at a gathering and read a Dispersal Order, your student must leave the premises immediately. Refusing to follow a Dispersal Order is cause for arrest.”

Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, according to the release, sees the messaging as “part of a multi-faceted campaign that reflects his commitment to address unacceptable behavior by some students.” Subbaswamy said that he and his leadership team are working to find solutions to this issue, and that they are “working closely with leaders in Amherst,” as an attempt to “redouble (their) effort” in tackling this problem, according to the release.

“Our approach must include communicating clear standards for behavior, enforcement and education, and examining underlying issues such as alcohol abuse and the range of social activities available to students,” Subbaswamy said in the release.

Student Government Association President Ashkay Kapoor also wrote a similar message to undergraduates, where he urged students to use good judgment at social occasions this spring, stating that “we live among families just like ours at home, with children, elderly, and residents who are not necessarily UMass-affiliated so it is important to be respectful.”

The messages came just days after University and town officials reached an agreement aimed at improving public safety measures in town on weekends this spring. Under the terms of the accord, the University agreed to fund two additional ambulances to be used by  the town on weekends. The agreement also set up joint patrols between the UMass and Amherst police departments.

George Felder can be reached at [email protected].