STUDENT ACTIVITIES >> STUDENT ORGANIZATION RESOURCE GUIDE >> EVENT POLICY

Board of Regents Policy:

The South Dakota Board of Regents strictly prohibits the unlawful possession, use or distribution of alcohol, marijuana or any other controlled substances by its students or employees while on property controlled by the Board of Regents or while participating in any capacity in sponsored activities or employment.

Dakota State University
Student Organization Events Policy

In an effort to promote responsible social behavior and concern for safety on the part of all participants the following requirements are to be carefully followed by student organizations when conducting events.

1. Event organizers must register the event with the Office of Student Activities as soon as the decision is made to sponsor the program. Events not registered through the office may not be considered sanctioned activities, therefore, putting event organizers at risk.

2. The faculty/staff advisor of the organization, and/or faculty/staff members acting as advisors, will be present for the entire event. It is permissible for such individuals to divide the timeframe between them.

3. At least two members of the organization must maintain surveillance of the premises at all times. These persons should continually make rounds and be alert for any problems that might occur, such as fights, use of illegal substances, persons causing damages to property, or other improper behavior.

4. Members of the organization should not be expected to become physically involved in any inappropriate behavior on the part of anyone at the event. In doing so the organization should adhere to the following steps:

(A) Ask the person(s) involved in the inappropriate behavior to immediately cease such behavior.

(B) Should the persons involved in the inappropriate behavior fail to immediately comply with the request, inform the person(s) that they are to leave and not return to the event.

(C) Should those persons involved fail to immediately leave and not return, contact the advisor and/or the management and have the person(s) involved removed. This may require that the organization and the management enlist assistance from the Police or Sheriff’s Office.

Inappropriate behavior may include, but is not limited to any of the following: gate crashing, intoxication, sneaking alcohol into the event, aggressive behavior, etc.

(D) Event organizers are expected to obtain the names of the individuals involved and submit an incident report to the Vice President the day following the event.

5. The organization should consider hiring an off-duty officer, at the price established by the officer, to be present at the event. This may be done by contacting the Madison Chief of Police or the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at least one full week prior to the day of the event. At a minimum, the organization should notify local authorities of the event and ask if they could patrol the parking area periodically during the event in an effort to reduce vandalism and other improper behavior.

6. The organization must decide how open to the public they want the event and so indicate on their publicity. Will it be members and their guests only, DSU students and guests only, no persons below 18, etc? The wider the segment of the public being admitted the greater the chance for income and of trouble. Organizers have the right to turn away individuals who are intoxicated or people who are behaving in a socially unacceptable manner.

7. The organization is encouraged to conduct a reasonably detailed inspection of the premises where the event will be held with a representative from the establishment management immediately before and after the event. At a minimum, the establishment management must be made aware of provisions regarding alcoholic beverages and must agree to full compliance with them.

8. The organizers of the event must be prepared to effectively manage conditions throughout the life of the event. Student leaders should discuss any matters of concern with the facility manager in an effort to maintain positive working relationships. Organizers should also share facility concerns with the Director of Activities at their earliest convenience so the University may assist in eliminating future problems.

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