Massachusetts Daily Collegian: October 1, 2014

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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

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Confidential informant program suspended Chancellor puts policy on hold until review By Aviva Luttrell Collegian Staff

University of Massachusetts Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy has suspended the use of student confidential informants by the UMass Police Department until a full review of the program can be completed, according to an email sent out to the campus community Tuesday night. The decision comes after a Boston Globe story published Sunday raised questions about whether the University did enough to help a UMass junior and confidential informant who

died of a heroin overdose in his off-campus apartment last October. According to the Globe, the student had been caught selling LSD and the club drug Molly a year before his death. Police also seized a hypodermic needle during the bust. However, instead of informing the student’s parents and suspending him, UMPD offered to keep the offense a secret if the student became a confidential informant, according to the Globe. “The death of a UMass Amherst student following a drug overdose last year, as reported in the Boston Globe, was a terrible loss for his family, friends and the UMass Amherst community,”

the University said in a statement released Monday. “In the case reported by the Boston Globe, UMass Amherst reached out to the student on two occasions to offer resources and assistance, keeping in mind the university’s legal obligation to respect the privacy of students who are legally adults. However, the student decided not to seek assistance. He successfully concealed his use of heroin from a wide variety of people.” UMPD and Student Affairs officials, with input from students, will conduct a review of the University’s confidential informant policy to determine whether the program should be discontinued or revised, and if so, whether

By Jaclyn Bryson Collegian Staff

Sparked by the rising feminist movement and backed by the dedication of volunteers, Necessities/ Necesidades first opened its doors in 1977 to spread awareness of domestic violence and lend a helping hand to those who needed it Over 30 years later, the name of this group has changed, but the goal remains the same. Safe Passage is based in Northampton and offers a variety of resources to those who are affected by domestic violence in Hampshire County. According to Executive Director Marianne Winters, these resources include a

community,” Subbaswamy said in the email. “This realignment will also facilitate the implementation of many of the recommendations of the Davis report pertaining to residence hall safety.” In Monday’s statement, the University said it learned for the first time from the Globe that the person who allegedly sold heroin to the deceased student reportedly still attends UMass. The Amherst Police Department has jurisdiction over the off-campus apartment where the student died, according to the statement, and the University received no information indicating that the alleged dealer was a UMass stusee

INFORMANTS on page 2

Welcome, women

Safe Passage lends support to survivors of domestic abuse Shelter has helped locals for 30 years

informants in drug cases should be required to receive a mandatory referral to an addiction specialist. Officials will also consider whether parents should be notified when their student becomes a confidential informant, according to the statement. In Tuesday’s email, Subbaswamy also announced that UMPD, which has reported to the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, will now report to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life, a position currently held by Enku Gelaye. “I am confident that opening new lines of communication and coordination will benefit our students and the entire campus

community program to help locals living with violence in any range, an emergency shelter which houses six families at a time and a prevention program called “Say Something,” aimed at preventing interpersonal violence. “I’m really inspired by the idea of social change,” Winters said as to why she is promoting this line of work. In the 2012 fiscal year, Safe Passage sheltered 44 adults and 35 children, answered 2,000 emergency hotline calls and helped 90 survivors get the legal help they needed, according to its website. According to Winters, these statistics generally remain the same annually. “Our shelter is always full,” she said. “In our comsee

SHELTER on page 2

SHANNON BRODERICK/COLLEGIAN

Linda H. Hoer, director, and Kathy Rhines, administrator, pose for a photo during the grand opening ceremony of UMass’ new Women’s Health Clinic Sept. 30.

UMatter aims to fight substance abuse Dorms to feature Campaign modified after Davis report Anthony Rentsch

Collegian Correspondent

With the results of last spring’s “Blarney Blowout” fresh in the minds of many in the University of Massachusetts community, the UMatter at UMass campaign has shifted its focus toward preventing alcohol and drug abuse on campus. UMatter at UMass is what Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Enku Gelaye calls an “environmental campaign.” The initiative “highlights cultural values which are important to the University,” she said, namely caring, compassion and active engagement. The campaign aims to apply these values to address important issues regarding students’ standards of living, such as harassment, sexual assault, alcohol and drug use and mental health. Last year, the campaign

was centered on sexual assault, an initiative that included videos and advertisements on PVTA buses to promote awareness. This year, in order to address the issue of alcohol and drug use, the campaign took strides to increase the presence and effectiveness of student bystanders in alcohol and drug abuse situations. Gelaye plans to use student cohorts at large-scale events to be “on ground” quasi-police. Instead of being there to apprehend students who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, these cohorts act as an intervening force that can step in if they observe a situation where a student is in distress, and serve as a resource that students can feel comfortable approaching if they are unsure of how to handle a situation. Lindsey Magri, a junior at the University, believes this student policing practice can be useful. “I think that a lot of

students are afraid to contact cops because they are afraid of getting in trouble,” Magri said. “With a student, they will be more willing to cooperate. There is more trust when someone our age talks to us.” Magri, who attended last semester’s “Blarney Blowout,” said she believes student cohorts would have been effective in reducing some of the violence during the St. Patrick’s Day event. This type of student policing is not a new phenomenon. In fact, similar student cohorts were utilized last year at a rally to support UMass men’s basketball player Derrick Gordon to make sure that both student and Westboro Baptists Church protestors remained safe. Gelaye also mentioned the “Walk This Way” initiative as another “studentactive bystander group.” Directed by the Off Campus Student Center, “Walk This Way” hires students

to stand on street corners near Fearing Street from 11 p.m. until 2 a.m. on weekend nights to intervene if they notice a situation where a student needs assistance. This also helps to ensure that UMass students are being respectful of the surrounding neighborhoods. At the Homecoming tailgate Saturday, student volunteers assumed the responsibility of an onthe-ground police corps. Because there was a lack of a full-blown incident, Homecoming was considered a success for the student cohort. In addition to the student policing system, UMatter at UMass is also raising awareness about a drug and alcohol use-related policy change. In years past, Gelaye said the University’s policy was unclear when it came to whether or not a student would be punished for see

CAMPAIGN on page 3

electronic sign-in

New system in all halls by fall 2015 Marleigh Felsenstein Collegian Staff

The University of Massachusetts is taking steps to modernize security signins in residence halls on campus. A new electronic signin system for residents and guests is currently in place in all the freshman dorms on campus, with the exception of Kennedy Tower in Southwest Residential Area due to its size. The system began in Poet’s Corner in Southwest during spring 2014. This includes Emerson Hall, James Hall, Melville Hall and Thoreau Hall. Since last semester, the system expanded to all freshman dorms, MacKimmie Hall, which is a sophomore residence, and Hamlin Hall in Northeast.

This new sign-in system, which is expected to be phased into all 51 residence halls by fall 2015, replaces the hand-written sign-in system. UMass spokesperson Daniel Fitzgibbons said a pilot program was introduced last spring which utilized laptops in residence hall security. The new system was implemented in order to make signing into dorms more efficient. “It counts better than a person could,” said Jim Meade, residence security director. While Fitzgibbons said there are gaps in the new system – security monitors are often overburdened if many students are waiting at once – the University believes the benefits outweigh the negatives. “It speeds things up a little for students. Paper is more bulky,” he said. “It is easier see

SECURITY on page 2


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