Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Copyright © 2003 University of Maryland.
All rights reserved.
Revised: June 30, 2003
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why do some students turn to dangerous
groups?
The pressures on college students -- particularly undergraduates to a new level
of freedom and personal responsibility -- include the exploration of new and
untested ideas, the questioning of beliefs and attitudes that had gone
unchallenged in childhood, the wrestling with who the young adult is and wishes
to become, and the need to become part of a group that supports and helps define
the student’s emerging persona.
All of these elements combine to make the student vulnerable to groups that
offer simplistic (and often idealistic) answers to life’s questions, promise a
ready-made circle of friends, and provide a focal point on the confusing,
troubling journey through late adolescence.
Have dangerous groups been a problem at College Park?
They certainly exist at the University, but any accurate assessment of their
level of activity is complicated by the surreptitious nature of dangerous group
activity as well as our need to respect students’ rights of privacy in personal
matters.
Anecdotal evidence (student or parent requests for assistance, as well as
information received from concerned staff members, parents and students
generally) indicates that there is no reason to suspect that the level of
activity is appreciably different from that at other large urban universities
across the nation
.
What can or should the University do?
There may be little more the University can or should do considering our respect
for students’ rights of privacy in personal matters, as well as for freedom of
speech and religion. There also are legal constraints on the University’s
oversight of student groups.
In those situations, however, when a complaint is filed alleging that an
individual or group has violated University rules and regulations, the incident
will be fully and aggressively investigated and appropriate disciplinary or
legal action will be taken.
Why can’t off-campus recruiters for dangerous groups simply be prohibited
from soliciting members on campus?
Because of the quasi-public nature of the University and free speech laws, we do
not ban non-campus groups from speaking and/or recruiting on the campus. We
also, however, do not provide accommodations for them (for example, use of rooms
or permission to solicit within buildings).
I’ve heard rumors that dangerous group members go door to door in the
residence halls soliciting new members. Why are they allowed to do that?
They are not allowed to do that. It is unlawful and a violation of residence
hall rules to conduct any unauthorized solicitation within the residence halls.
Any resident student faced with such solicitation should report it immediately
to his or her Resident Director.
Other colleges and universities have banned organizations commonly regarded
as dangerous groups. Why hasn’t the University of Maryland?
Given the quasi-public nature of the University of Maryland, it is extremely
difficult to impose restrictions on free speech, or to ban organizations from
speaking and recruiting on campus. The University has traditionally held to a
broad interpretation of the First Amendment. This means that unlike some public
universities, Maryland has never, for example, attempted to implement the kinds
of speech codes that ultimately have been overturned by the courts. Our stance
is that unless we feel an abridgement of the First Amendment is likely to
withstand legal challenge -- and few are -- we are best advised to use devices
such as public awareness and the exposing of controversial issues to the light
of open debate.
Who coordinates the University’s efforts to deal with dangerous groups on
campus?
The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs is the central coordinating
point for concerns about and information on dangerous group activity at
Maryland. From that point, depending on the particular situation, callers will
be referred to other appropriate offices on campus.
