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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-17-2015 Public Comment ArmstrongCOUNCIL MEETING: 0 _Q3 L i %Olrj ITEM NO.: L I �.+1 I+�I t•,l Lomeli, Monique Subject: FW: Thank you. Attachments: 3 -13 Investigation Update Stmt FINAL.pdf MAR 13 2015 From: President's Office [presidentsoffice @calpoly.edu] Sent: Friday, March 13, 2015 2:11 PM To: Marx, Jan; Carpenter, Dan; Ashbaugh, John; Lichtig, Katie; Sims, Shannon; Rivoire, Dan; Christianson, Carlyn; Johnson, Lee; Gesell, Steve; Staley, Chris; Olson, Garret; Wallace, Christine; Johnson, Derek; mcodrin(a)slocity.org Cc: Betsy Kinsley Subject: Thank you. Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers, Thank you for all of your support during this challenging week. From the SLOPD and SLOFD first responders, to the building inspectors and public works staff who were on Hathaway and in the surrounding neighborhoods over the weekend, to the countless others who offered counsel and assistance, I offer my sincere appreciation. I want to especially acknowledge the work of Michael Codron, the assistant city manager, as he was our main point of contact this week while Katie is on a well- deserved break. Yesterday, our Cal Poly forum to discuss the specific St. Fratty's Day party was attended by more than 500 people. A majority of the crowd were students, but there were also concerned university faculty, staff, and city residents and staff. Each constituency has multiple connections with each other, and it was wonderful to have them all well - represented. The forum was respectful and full of different perspectives, befitting the core mission of a university as a place for human growth and development. It was a wonderful beginning of a dialogue, and I emphasize "beginning." At the forum, I mentioned that the university and city will need a menu of options to address and solve these broad issues. Students want to -- and I would add need to -- be involved in developing solutions. I think that will serve us all well. Cal Poly remains a committed partner to the Student Community Liaison Committee (SCLC), and I am proud of the continued leadership of Cal Poly and Cuesta students. For further tools, I am also looking forward to the recommendations of the Community Civility Task Force. Regarding our official investigation into the St. Fratty's Day party, last evening many students were required to be interviewed about their involvement in the party and possible illegal behavior. Students who failed to comply with our mandate to be interviewed will be addressed through our formal student rights and responsibilities process. Attached for your information is a statement released today about our investigation. Universities and cities across the nation are struggling with many of these same issues, with varying degrees of severity and effectiveness in mitigation. As we have discussed on numerous occasions, the issues surrounding neighborhood wellness have taken decades to develop. I think we all agree that we must now turn words into action. My goal, in true Cal Poly fashion, is to work collaboratively with you to become the best city and university team in the country for neighborhood relations. If we continue to work together, I know we can achieve it. As always, please feel free to contact me directly (iarsmtro @calpoly.edu and 805 - 234 -7842) or Betsy Kinsley (ekinsley@calpoly.edu or 805 - 550 -6927) with any questions, ideas or concerns you may have. Sincerely, Jeff Jeffrey D. Armstrong President California Polytechnic State University One Grand Avenue San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 -1000 +1 (805) 756 -6000 presidentsoffice @ca Ipoly.edu Follow me on Twitter @CPPrezArmstrong MAR 13 2015 Cal Poly March 13, 2015 The Cal Poly Dean of Students' Office is progressing in its investigation into the March 7 gathering on Hathaway Avenue in San Luis Obispo that resulted in the collapse of a garage. In an effort to identify specific participants, the dean's office has combed photos and social media posts about the event and worked with local public safety agencies to gather information. On Thursday, the office questioned about 30 students — identified participants, student leaders, and others with potential information about the gathering — with the aim of focusing the scope of the full and thorough investigation moving forward. "Our ultimate intent is to determine who is directly responsible for planning this gathering and hold them accountable for creating a safety threat to the participants and the community," said Jean DeCosta, the university's Dean of Students. Cal Poly's judicial process gives flexibility to determine the sanction that best matches the action, DeCosta said. Sanctions range from a warning up to suspension or expulsion. To ensure impartiality, Cal Poly will bring in independent investigators — likely student conduct officers and experts from other universities — to conduct the remainder of the investigation, DeCosta said. Meanwhile, the university continues to work closely with city government officials in discussing broader issues of student - community relations and neighborhood wellness. "What happened the morning of March 7 is clearly not indicative of Cal Poly's expectations of its students or the relationship we work to foster with the surrounding community," said President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. The university and city are discussing measures to help prevent such incidents in the future. Armstrong said students themselves must also actively participate in leading change. Cal Poly engaged its students and members of the community Thursday morning in an open forum on the March 7 event. The discussion focused on how participating in such activities can affect students' individual futures and how such gatherings hurt the university and its relationship with the community. Attendees also shared thoughts on how the university, its students and the surrounding community can more effectively and positively coexist. "We expect our students to enjoy their time at Cal Poly and in this beautiful community. We do not, however, expect that they will endanger themselves and those around them or disregard and disrupt the tranquility of our residential neighborhoods," Armstrong said. "These are unacceptable behaviors unbefitting the privilege of being a member of the Cal Poly family and the San Luis Obispo community."