To: All Faculty & All Academic Professionals & All Civil Service Staff
           <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "Office of the Provost" <provost@uiuc.edu>

Reply-To: provost@uiuc.edu
 Subject: MASSMAIL - Unofficial St. Patrick's Day - February 29

On Friday, February 29, 2008, many Campustown bars will participate in the 
annual business promotion known as Unofficial St. Patrick's Day (USPD). 
While the University does not support or condone this promotion, steps are 
being taken to ensure the safety of students who choose to participate, 
and to insulate academic instruction and campus operations from 
disruption. Last year, disruption of instruction during USPD was minimized 
in part because students understood that academic business would continue 
as usual. We trust that such will be the case again this year.

In the interest of safety, Champaign Police will have a visible presence 
in Campustown on February 29. They will enforce all applicable ordinances 
in commercial areas, and have been given special authority to intervene if 
private parties threaten to disturb the peace. In addition, Champaign city 
officials have enacted special restrictions on liquor sales that are 
intended to curb overconsumption. Given the probable limitations of these 
efforts, emergency medical personnel will stand ready to provide care as 
required.

The profile of the University Police will also be elevated during USPD. 
Their work will focus on protecting students, staff, faculty, and 
University property from harm caused by the disorderly conduct of event 
participants. Report emergencies to METCAD at 911 (or, from a campus 
phone, 9-911). On February 29, requests for non-emergency response by 
University Police should be directed to 333-1216.

A number of resources are in place to help faculty and staff preserve the 
integrity of academic instruction and campus operations on February 29:

-- The Student Code (http://www.uiuc.edu/admin_manual/code/) addresses 
student responsibilities on campus. Sections 1-102(d) and 1-302(f), on 
classroom conduct expectations, and section on 1-307, on alcohol 
consumption, are particularly relevant. The Code empowers instructors to 
ask disruptive students to leave class; after class, names of disruptive 
students should be reported to the Office for Student Conflict Resolution 
at 333-3680 or via online form at 
http://www.conflictresolution.uiuc.edu/forms/incidentReport/form.asp.

-- If asking a disruptive student to leave class could escalate into 
confrontation, it will be best to avoid confrontation and seek assistance. 
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on February 29, teams of Student Affairs and 
Academic Affairs staff will walk through and around buildings with 
classrooms and lecture halls where disruptions were experienced in 2006. 
Roaming team members, wearing their University IDs as nametags and 
identified as university officials, may be summoned to assess problematic 
situations. Teams will be prepared to document apparent Code violations 
and to call University Police if necessary. Of course, instructors and 
students are encouraged to report emergencies directly to METCAD at 911 
(or, from a campus phone, 9-911).

-- Students will be asked to surrender liquids prior to entering the two 
largest lecture halls on the Quad (Foellinger Auditorium and Lincoln Hall 
Theater). This represents enforcement of standing policies that prohibit 
food and beverages in these venues.

Students should understand that those who choose to interfere with the 
academic mission of the University will face serious consequences. 
Instructional and support staff are thanked for joining the effort to 
reinforce this message before and on February 29. 

 

Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

 
This mailing approved by:
The Office of the Provost & Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

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