Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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Board yet? The University Students’ Council elected the final three memebers of its 2013–14 executive board Saturday. >> pg. 3

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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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Police tame St. Paddy’s Cops sign in to social media to target parties

USC: Peer Support Centre a big success Jesica Hurst News Editor

Mike Laine Gazette

Aaron Zaltzman News Editor Chilly weather and a distinct lack of flaming mattresses combined for a quiet St. Patrick’s Day this year, at least relative to past years, and London Police Services are congratulating themselves on a job well done. “The London Police Service planned a significant deployment of officers to prevent any opportunity for celebrations to get out of control,” Ken Steeves, public relations officer for the London Police, said. “We delivered clear and consistent messaging of strict enforcement.” It also included a fair amount of confiscation and fines, as police seized 21 kegs from various parties, and doled out over $24,000 in tickets for liquor license act violations, noise bylaw violations, urination in public and the recently passed nuisance party act violations. With the shadow of last year’s riots on Fleming Drive, police

certainly felt the pressure to keep the peace this year around. According to Steeves, this necessitated a proactive approach, which included a noticeable presence on social media. “Twitter was a great way to get the message out instantly instead of waiting until the day after, at which point it would have been late and defeated the purpose,” Steeves explained. “We wanted the general public to be aware of what we were doing.” The awareness cut both ways, as Steeves said the police had also used social media to find out where some of the biggest parties were being held—one such party at 175 Mill Street was broken up by the police shortly before noon. The arrival of the police was not only announced on the London Police Twitter account, but mentioned by Police Chief Brad Duncan on his own account. “During the party, somebody said the chief of London police

tweeted about our party. It said there was a party at our house and if you’re coming, don’t go,” Ethan Sager, a fourth-year social science student and resident of 175 Mill Street, said. Sager said the officers originally agreed to fine the house $215 for a noise complaint if the party was shut down, but upon Duncan’s arrival, they received four $615 tickets. He also suspected the police knew about the party beforehand. “It was really nothing out of the ordinary—we just invited our friends through Facebook and word of mouth,” Sager said. He explained the party was in control, and that he thought a noise complaint in his neighbourhood, the “student ghetto,” was unlikely. Regardless, Steeves said the police were extremely pleased. “For the most part, everybody was responsible this year and respectful of each other, and that’s all we ask.”

Volume 106, Issue 86

At the University Students’ Council’s Annual General Meeting last Wednesday, Myuri Komaragiri, vice-president campus issues for the USC, gave a review of the Peer Support Centre’s first academic year at Western. According to Komaragiri, progress at the centre, which was officially released as the Peer Support Centre at the end of October, has stemmed from being infused with much more structure this year. “Due to the new structure, our community-facilitated support groups have greatly benefited. We have always offered various support programs, such as art therapy, LGBT discussion groups [and] eating disorder support groups, [...] but this year, as students call in or visit the centre to express certain needs, they can be referred easily for a group if that will benefit them the most,” she explained. “As much as we like to refer students to further resources on campus and the community, it is nice to be the end service in some ways.” Komaragiri also explained the peer phone line has been successful. The USC hired and trained over 25 volunteers to ensure the

centre can provide service Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but the phone line ensures students can continue receiving help between 6 p.m. and midnight. Even though the centre has been successful throughout its inaugural year, Jeanette Shepherd, supervisor for the Peer Support Centre, said there is still some room for improvement. After reviewing their operations, Shepherd explained the centre would focus on their communication for next year. “One of our future priorities is to continue building awareness about the Peer Support Centre, Peer Phone Line and the student support services operating in the space, so that even more Western students are aware of and can connect with peer support resources available to them on campus,” Shepherd said. “We are also excited about further integrating with O-Week activities next semester.” For more information about the Peer Support Centre, Komaragiri advised students to visit www. westernpeersupport.ca, or to attend the Town Hall meeting tonight between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.—an informal gathering to provide students with an opportunity to discuss emerging issues and to voice concerns and preferences in a relaxed environment.

Andrei Calinescu Gazette


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