A study which explored peer culture, residence life, fraternity parties, party rape and potential responses by university administrators in reducing risks to students will be the springboard for discussion at the half-day event May 26.

IU faculty, staff and students from all campuses of the university will be exploring the topic “Toward a Safer Campus: Challenging Student Norms Involving Sex, Alcohol and the Campus Party Scene” from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Indiana Memorial Union’s Frangipani Room. The symposium is co-sponsored by the IUB Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Commission on Personal Safety.

“We always come up with a good topic. There’s been a lot of concern with personal safety. It’s an ongoing concern,” said Suzanne Phillips, assistant dean of students at IUB, adding the topic is attracting a lot of attention from students and staff alike. She has assisted in planning the annual event every year since 1991.

Sexual assault and its link to excessive drinking is an ongoing concern for university personnel, she said. The issue is not limited to Indiana University, said Phillips, who has extended an invitation to the symposium to student affairs professionals outside the IU community.

The keynote address, presented by Armstrong, will outline findings from a qualitative investigation she led involving 89 students. Ethnographic observations and interviews comprise Armstrong’s methodology. The study explored peer culture, residence life, fraternity parties, party rape and potential responses by university administrators in reducing risks to students. Armstrong was assisted by graduate students Laura Hamilton, Evelyn Perry, Brian Sweeney and Amanda Tanner. Undergraduate students Katie Bradley, Teresa Cummings and Aimee Lipkis also assisted.

Armstrong presented her findings last fall at a seminar planned by the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). “Some of our folks heard her talk at the SoTL seminar and thought she was right on point,” said Phillips.

After the keynote address, the symposium will include time for student response and audience participation during two interest sessions followed by a best practices presentation by IU student affairs staff. A capstone session will provide opportunity to discuss how the university can work to improve efforts in reducing high risk behaviors, said Phillips.

Phillips believes the symposium offers a great opportunity to look at the university’s current practices and then offer suggestions for further work. During the interest sessions and student panels, participants will be encouraged to come up with ideas on how the university can address high-risk behaviors.

To register for the Spring Symposium, contact Phillips by phone at 812-855-8187 or E-mail at philli@indiana.edu. Registration is free.

Past symposia topics have included: Students and stress, citizenship, making the most of college, access to excellence, listening to the learners, promoting student success, and helping students succeed.