The University of New Hampshire and the town of Durham passed a Statement of Shared Civic Commitment this past February. The statement is a written agreement that lists the standards, values and goals by which the town and University desire to live by.
President Ann Weaver Hart and Durham Town Administrator Todd Selig approved the statement on Feb. 16. Topics such as respect for the community, the environment and law and University policy are addressed in the statement. The document states that the University's location within the town of Durham generates a special relationship that requires mutual respect, open and continuous communication, and the fulfillment of civic responsibilities by community members.
According to Selig, the statement reinforces the ties that exist between the town and the University.
"The University students, faculty and staff have a major impact on the broader community," Selig said. "We are hopeful as a town that by making this statement, people will have a clear understanding of the expectations we have for them."
In light of the riots over the past year at the University, administrators from both Durham and UNH thought it would be wise to revisit the idea of publishing this statement, according to Anne Lawing, senior vice president for Student and Academic Services. The latest version has been going back and forth between the Town Council and the President's Cabinet since last summer. Both bodies signed off on the final document after many edits.
"The original statement was produced as a joint effort between the town and University back in the mid-1980s," Lawing said. "After last April's riots, several of us who were around for the first version remembered it. I asked two staff members to meet with town officials to update the language."
According to University Police Capt. Paul Dean, the issuing of this statement should not add any extra strain on law enforcement.
"In fact, it will help," Dean said. "It will send a clear message to those who cause the problems. I believe this statement is critical for all. We, UNH, must be good neighbors. Durham is our host community."
Dean does not believe this will affect students on campus since students are already held to high standards. This statement targets off-campus students the most, he said.
Building a functional relationship with the town of Durham is one of Meghan McPherson's goals as the external affairs chairperson for the Student Senate. Any step toward better relations between UNH and the town of Durham is a good one, she said.
"This statement is something that should be said," McPherson said. "It's a step in the right direction for UNH and the Durham community. It's not a policy; it's a statement letting students know that the town of Durham and the University have this relationship."
The statement will eventually be instituted into the student handbook. It is currently posted on both the University and town Web sites.
"I hope this statement helps students understand that they are citizens of Durham and the UNH community while they are enrolled," Lawing said. "As citizens, we are all expected to maintain the highest standards of behavior, such as respecting ourselves, each other and the environment."
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