September Citizen-of-the-Month

For those of you who have never heard of this award, the Office of Community and Ethical Standards once a month, honors a student who has served as a role model to other students by exhibiting the Clemson core values of integrity, honesty, and respect. Anyone from the campus community can nominate a student for this award. If you know of someone that serves as a role model for other students and exhibits these three values, feel free to email a nomination to Justin Carter, Associate Director of the Office of Community and Ethical Standards, at jcarte2@clemson.edu. All nominations are due by the 20^th of the month.

Rickey E. Taylor, Jr.

For the first time in the two-year history of this award the Office of Community and Ethical Standards collectively would like to nominate one of our own, Rickey E. Taylor, Jr. When Rickey first came to our office, he was facing some personal problems that quite honestly affected the quality of his work. He did not take responsibility for his actions, he made excuses, he would not show up to scheduled hours, and he generally showed distaste for volunteer hours.

I will let Rickey tell you in his own words what he was going through at that time, “When I came to OCES it is was because of a DUI. When they didn’t suspend me, I was like cool! But when they told me what I had to do, I was like man I don’t want to do this. Some days I just wanted to find an excuse about why I couldn’t come and I felt like I could not make that big of an impact.”

All of this came to a climax in the Fall 2008 after Rickey had missed several community service hours. After a meeting with our Director and a conversation with his mother and others, a noticeable change occurred. Not only was Rickey appearing for his hours, he was hanging out in the office beyond his community service hours looking for things to assist with. He became a part of a student group in our office dedicated to community education called the Community Educators. Through this opportunity he talks to other students about his experiences with drinking and DUI and encourages students to make smart decisions. He has impacted many students with the pictures from his accident and his personal story.

This year he not only is a part of the Community Educators he has taken over as Chair of the organization. His goal is to grow the organization and aid in the transition from being a departmentally sponsored program to an independently recognized student organization. This is one of the many good things for the Community Educator organization this year. Thanks in part to a young man, who didn’t want to participate in anything community service related to begin with. Rickey also, wanted to make sure we mentioned that if you have an interest in learning more about the Community Educators, they meet every Thursday at 6:00pm in 700 Union.

CONGRATULATIONS Rickey!

Sincerely,

Justin Carter

Associate Director, OCES

The Truth About File-Sharing: The Actual Cost of Downloading Music

Have you fully read the licensing agreement to popular file-sharing websites? A very popular file-sharing site talks about using their network to download what they describe as “Illegal Materials” (i.e. music, movies, materials with an associated copyright, or pornographic materials):

 

[This program], like all peer-to-peer (“P2P”) programs is capable of being used to share materials that the copyright owner has not authorized be shared. It is unlawful to use [this program] to infringe the intellectual property rights of others, or to share, distribute, or download others protected, proprietary and/or confidential information without authorization, or to share, distribute or download unlawful pornographic materials (collectively “Illegal Materials”). By using [this program] you agreed and represent that you will not use [this program] to share, distribute or download Illegal Materials.

 

So what does all this legal language mean? Basically, the file-sharing service is warning you that their service should not be used to download music and movies, or other copyrighted materials without permission of the author or the copyright holder. Ironically, this is the best-known use for popular file-sharing services. Also, by agreeing to use this service, you have agreed to not download, share, or distribute these types of files. Now read this from the same file-sharing service’s licensing agreement:

 

You hereby agree to indemnify and keep indemnified (name withheld), any of its officers, employees, agents, subsidiary companies, holding companies and/or the officers, employees and/or agents of each from and against any and all costs, claims, demands, liabilities, expenses, damages or losses (including without limitation consequential losses, loss of profit and loss of reputation, and all interest, penalties and legal and other professional costs and expenses) arising out of your breach of any of the terms of this License or in any way connected to your use or misuse of the Program or any part thereof.

 

Did you know…?

 

Did you know that music and movie companies have sued individuals in the past for downloading and/or sharing a music or movie file without permission from the copyright holder? The paragraph above basically says that if you happen to be sued by the record company, you agree that you will not hold this website responsible for the money you are being sued for (damages) in the event that you are sued.

 

You can search Google® for John Tenenbaum, Ciara Sauro, and Jammie Thomas. What we can learn from their stories is that no matter how easy file-sharing networks make music and movies obtainable, rarely can you receive something for free. Unfortunately, there is a cost. Either you pay the cost upfront, or that cost may be charged to you later on. Networks such as Kazaa, Bit Torrent, Limewire, etc., do make the sharing of files easier, however we need to make sure the files that we choose to download and share were offered by the actual copyright holder.

 

An easy way to not have to deal with this hassle is to simply obtain our music and movies from trusted media vendors. On our campus, iTunes® seems to be the most popular, but there are other sources available as well.  Find the best way for you to enjoy your favorite music and movies responsibly.

Welcome New Tigers!

Clemson University and the Office of Community and Ethical Standards (OCES) is so excited to see the many new Clemson Tigers here for Orientation. OCES strives to ensure a safe campus environment by encouraging everyone to uphold Clemson University's core values and community standards. The Core Values for our community are integrity, honesty, and respect. Our community standards can be found in the Clemson Student Handbook in the form of the Student Code of Conduct. You can access the Student Code of Conduct on the Division of Student Affairs website at: http://www.clemson.edu/studentaffairs/studenthandbook/index.php

The Student Code of Conduct includes a list of student regulations that help to create a safe campus community. It is the responsibility of every student to familiarize themselves with our policies. Also, included in the code are procedures for the administration of the student conduct process that we follow as well as list of sanctions that may result from a violation of one or more of the student regulations. This is not an exhaustive list. Throughout the process we make every attempt to be educational in our efforts and we take seriously the growth and personal development of every student we meet with and each student here at Clemson University. Here are just a few remarks from past students:

"I thought it was going to be a lot different than what it turned out to be. It was clearly pointed out to me what I did wrong, I was able to tell my side of the story and the process went well."

"I was expecting an actual judicial hearing...but found that the process was very informal and the people in the room were in there to help me and the community of Clemson."

"I was expecting a fair judgement [sic] through the student conduct process and let me fully understand the situation and the sanction. The process lived up to every expectation and more."

"I was worried that my side of the story would not be taken seriously, and whomever I talked to would not believe me, but Justin Carter was very understanding and open minded."

"I thought Wade Livingston was great and helped me to feel comfortable. I also liked talking on a friendly level as opposed to being talked down to [sic] or feeling attacked."

This is just a sample of the many glowing comments about OCES this past year from the survey we send out to students after an encounter with our office. Please understand that we are here for you and not "the place you go to when you get into trouble." We want to make sure Clemson University continues to be a safe place for you and your friends. We also try to honor those students that help us create a safe environment through our Citizen-of-the-Month program. Reading some of the archived posts, you will be able to learn more about our past winners. These are all individuals that have served as role models of the Clemson Core Values. Please give consideration to nominating yourself or a friend for this award.

 If you have questions about university policies, about OCES, or our educational programs feel free to post those questions here and we will be sure to answer them. Otherwise, you can send your question via email to jcarte2@clemson.edu. You can also find answers to many questions on our official website. Please go to http://www.clemson.edu/oces. Thank you so much for choosing Clemson University as your home and we look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Justin Carter

Associate Director

Educational Programs, OCES

Free Speech on Campus

By now, all of you have heard about our latest campus visitor. I will not refer to him by name, but if you don't know who I am referring to then please just ask anyone on campus. I was there Thursday afternoon taking the sight all in and watching the reactions of some of our students. There was a majority in the group that seemed to disagree with the views of our visitor. A riot seemed close at hand when CUPD officers showed up to keep the animosity under control. Feeling the pressure from inside the circle of people, these men and women in blue explained to the crowd that our visitor had a right to be there. While some feebly tried, no one could really argue against that point.

In America, we may not agree with the views of someone else, but we all should fight for someone's right to express them. I have the right to say that the Office of Community and Ethical Standards is the greatest office on campus. While my statement may or may not be accurate (it is), I have the right to say it and there will be some that disagree. This simple right is what makes us so different from other countries. The freedom we have here is why people are willing to pay someone a hefty sum to get across the border, travel in swirling seas in a dingy just to make it to the coast, or use up all their savings to send a family member on their own just so they can have a better life.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

This simple statement means so much to a country that so many love. What are some views that you hold onto that others may not support? However, aren't you glad you have the right to say them? If you disagreed with President Bush, you did not have to fear retribution by raising your concerns. If you disagree with President Obama's foreign policy you have the right to express your disagreement. And in this country which is diverse in so many ways (e.g. culture, ethnicity, style, religion, beliefs, values, etc.) there is bound to be some disagreement. 

Now Clemson is a public university. Given that we are an entity of the state, the orange and purple streets upon which we walk belong to the people not the institution. Therefore, because of free speech anyone can come onto campus can express their opinions. Now there are certain regulations that one must abide by in order to do so. Having said that, all precautions were taken for the appropriate exchange of ideas. An exchange of ideas. However, if you know you cannot have a civil conversation with a member of the community then it is time to practice another right we have as Americans...the ability to simply walk away.

Last week of classes...GOOD LUCK!

-J-

Link to Application

For anyone interested in any of our positions listed below, here is a link to the application: 

https://secure.stuaff.clemson.edu/forms/index.php?id=13373

Thanks,

JC

Prepare for Global Impact

Students have been the best ambassadors for telling others about our vision of OCES. We do more than hold disciplinary conferences and hold students accountable for their actions, but we work hand in hand with students, faculty, and staff to promote change in our community. The best way to promote change is to educate others. THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN HELP US! We are looking to prepare for next year and we looking for students who would like to help us change the campus and learn skills necessary to compete in a global economy or in any professional position. Hence, the term, "Prepare for Global Impact." We have volunteer opportunities for students in the following areas: 

BE A COMMUNITY EDUCATOR

If you are creative, or would like to be more creative then consider being a Community Educator. Community Educators help develop and facilitate some of the learning opportunities presented by the Office of Community and Ethical Standards. Some examples of workshops we present are: Community Core Values, Conflict Mediation, Restorative Justice Facilitation Training, and Judicial Training. This group also creates posters, handouts, brochures, and anything else we can imagine to help educate the community.

BE A CAMPUS CONFLICT MEDIATOR

Our office is constantly looking for new and innovative ways to help our students work through problems. A student discipline conference is not appropriate for every situation. Starting in the Fall 2009 Clemson University will begin two new processes for addressing student behavior and problems. First we are creating a Restorative Justice program. Restorative Justice is a way to address the harm of an offender upon those that are considered the harmed parties and/or the community. Restorative Justice requires everyone involved (including the offender) to agree on the appropriate actions to address the impact on those harmed and restore the relationship(s). Second, there is a program for those situations where no one was harmed and no conduct violations have occurred. When two people are having trouble seeing eye-to-eye (e.g. roommate conflict), conflict mediators will be needed to help students in these situations communicate and come to some form of an agreement or understanding. We need facilitators for both of these programs. 

Training is simple and there is not a huge time commitment. Conflict Mediation has two parts: Introduction to Conflict Mediation and Being a Conflict Mediator. These workshops will be offered all throughout the summer and the fall. After attending both of these workshops you will certified to participate in on-campus mediations. To be a Restorative Justice facilitator you will need to attend both Conflict Mediation Workshops and attend a Restorative Justice workshop. All three workshops will last no longer than three hours. As a facilitator your time commitment will be 1-3 hours per month.

BE AN INTERN

We have internship opportunities available to students in a variety of disciplines. If you would like to know more about the various internships and if your academic program will provide academic credit for the internship, please schedule an appointment with Justin Carter at jcarte2@clemson.edu, or fill out the application and post a comment about internships in the memo field. We have two internships available in the fall. First we have a Restorative Justice internship (open to Sociology majors or a related field only) and we have a Community Outreach internship (open to all Clemson majors) that will supervise the Community Educator program.

it will BE A BENEFIT

We hope you take this opportunity as there will be many benefits for you volunteering with our office: 

• Learn critical skills necessary for any work environment (e.g. your future career, co-op, internships, campus leadership position, campus employment, etc.)
• Learn and practice conflict mediation techniques
• Obtain artifacts for your e-Portfolio (Gen. Ed. Requirement: Ethical Judgement)
• Build your resume
• Gain skills to compete in a global job market

PREPARE TO APPLY

By Friday, March 27th there will be a link on our website to an application. You can find this link at http://www.clemson.edu/studentaffairs/oces/communityed/index.php . Once there you will able to list the position you are interested in, answer a few short questions, and your done. I will also post the link in this blog once the application goes live. If you have any problems, please contact me at jcarte2@clemson.edu. 

Good luck and I hope to see you working with me next fall!

Always,

JC

Hey It Can Happen to You!

Hey It Can Happen to You!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

7:00pm-Vickery Hall

Real Clemson Students presenting Real Clemson Stories

Sponsored by Clemson's Safe Spring Extravaganza

The Office of Community and Ethical Standards 

and the Healthy Campus Initiative

A Wallet in Hand is Worth Three Core Values

Dear Readers,

I know it has been a while since my last published post. February has proven to be an extremely difficult month. However, I will plan to stay on top of this blog for the month of March. And what better way to kick off this month than to come in like a lion and honor a Citizen-of-the-Month. Perhaps you remember the story from a past Citizen-of-the Month where we had a student return a lost wallet. However, the circumstances are different and so are the people. Read this story to understand the lengths our next honoree went to:

"As a Clemson alumni not living in the area, nothing is more cherished than the times one gets to return to campus and see what has changed or what has stayed the same. Visiting old friends, co-workers, and students bring back great memories of the time shared on campus. Imagine how my excitement for being on campus was tarnished when I had realized I had lost my credit card. I had put it in my pocket along with my cell phone as I walked across campus to meet friends for lunch. Apparently, at one point along my journey...I had pulled out my cell phone and my credit card fell out with it.

When I got to the Quad, I was waiting for my friends and my Blackberry beeped letting me know I had a Facebook message...I am a millenial student and I do have a Blackberry and I do have Facebook on it. The Facebook message was from someone I didn't know, a Meghan Marr, but it was titled 'Credit Card.' Unsure of how to locate me, she searched for me on Facebook and sent me a message...giving me her phone number, but also saying she was leaving town and would try to get the card to her roommate if she not going to be around. Not being from around Clemson I knew I had to call her soon!I immediately called her and was able to meet with her in front of Mauldin Hall to get the card back. 

I do not know many people who would go out of their way like that to track down a complete stranger to give back a credit card, but I am very thankful for Meghan Marr!"

Submitted by,

Amber Poulsen

Clemson University Alumnus

So to all my Generation X and Baby Boomer friends who are not on Facebook, please do so immediately.  In any case, congratulations to Meghan Marr, who is our February Citizen-of-the-Month. As always, please help me thank her for being such a positive role model.

Always,

-j-

Callie Boyd

It is my pleasure to once again announce our Citizen-of-the-Month. And this one is extra special as it is our first citizen for 2009. Please help me in congratulating our Clemson Undergraduate Student Body President, Callie Boyd, as our January Citizen-of-the-Month. Here is the nomination letter: 

I'd like to nominate Callie Boyd for the Citizen of the Month. I looked through the website and do not think she has received recognition yet. 

Callie has been an inspiration to me as someone who always challenges herself to act ethically. Not only does she act ethically, she challenges others to do so as well. I have personally asked her to mentor me because she is a student that lives out what she believes and says. She is in a position where she is constantly representing students and attending important meetings and she does so with an appropriate level of professionalism and enthusiasm to advocate on behalf of students.

I can write more but your description only asked for a few sentences. If she is not going to be chosen this month, I will continue to write each month until she does win :)

Thank you for considering my nomination. I value having Callie Boyd as my [Undergraduate] Student Body President and I hope that you can thank her for what she does and her ethical leadership on behalf of the Student Body she so diligently serves and represents.

Sincerely,

An Anonymous Student

After a request like that, OCES, could not say no. I feel it is also important to mention that this is the second nomination that we have received for Callie this year. She truly is making a huge impact on the campus community. I'm so glad we could honor her in this manner.

Sincerely,

-j-

Our First Conflict Mediation Workshop

The Office of Community and Ethical Standards would like to invite our colleagues within Student Affairs to our first Conflict Mediation Workshop. This event will be held in the Student Senate Chambers on Friday, February 27, 2009 from 8:45-4:30pm. With respect to schedules, participants are allowed to come and go as necessary. However, to limit confusion this workshop will be delivered in two sections: Conflict Mediation I will take place in the morning section and Conflict Mediation II will take place during the afternoon. If you are interested in attending, feel free to RSVP by sending an email to jcarte2@clemson.edu. Please reserve your spot early as space is limited. Some seats are reserved just for students.

The workshop is being presented by Amanda Kiakis, Director of Judicial Services at State University of New York, Oneonta. The purpose of this workshop will show us how to work better within teams, solve problems better as a unit, and help to reinforce the concept of One Clemson on campus. This will be an amazing free professional development opportunity to those interested. If you have any questions feel free to post them here or contact our directly.

Same Vision in a New Year

Welcome back to the students, faculty, and staff of Clemson University and welcome back to other readers of this blog. As we begin another semester in academia, I thought it would be beneficial to reiterate our vision for the Office of Community and Ethical Standards. As a part of the Division of Student Affairs, we are committed to the educational missions of Student Affairs and Clemson University. We see our office as an important component of student development and we will continue to help students become successful members of the Clemson community and prepare them for a lifetime role of global citizenship.

We will continue to promote the Core Values on campus as we see this as the vehicle to lead all students to appropriate community interactions. We will also continue to support students and student organizations in their endeavors who are serving as role models of the Clemson Core Values to other students. Our office will continue to provide more educational programming to prevent students from having to be exposed to the student discipline process. The end result is that students who interact with our office will have a stronger sense of community, and we will reduce the number of students having to participate in a discipline hearing and/or conference.

We cannot do this alone and we appreciate the faculty, staff, and students who help us in our education efforts. However, we do need more help, if we are to achieve these goals. If you are passionate about making an impact, or have a desire to help others but don't know how to get started; give me a call and I can help you get plugged into what we are doing. Thank you for a wonderful 2008. Here's to 2009!

Sincerely,

-j-

Office of Community and Ethical Standards 

656-0510