Student Life gives concerned students a way to identify friends’ problems anonymously

Student Life has provided a new online form for fall 2011 to identify students in need of support and guidance in their lives. The Student of Concern Form is found online and can be used by faculty, staff, students and even friends or family, according to Student Life Case Manager Jae Webb.

"One of the main functions of the Student Life office is to support students that may be struggling in singular or multifarious areas and provide resources necessary for these students to succeed," Webb said.

The form follows suit. It allows the reporting individuals to identify themselves, the student of concern, what concerns they have and how or why such things are a point of concern, according to Webb. Information can be as extensive and detailed as the reporter wishes to make it. More information is preferable so the situation can be handled professionally, but Student Life is willing to work with whatever details they get.

 "I think some students could definitely benefit from it," junior Jaimie VanLith said. "My only concern is the reaction of the student to Student Life."

Student Life hopes the form will aid in identifying the students on campus in need of support, and that allowing the general population to become a part of this difficult task will make distinctions a little easier.

"By allowing an online, anonymous, versatile submission method, our hope is that we can streamline the process by which information or students in need of support reach our office," Webb said. "The endgame is to see students that need a little extra help getting it and getting on with their time at Gonzaga."

Gonzaga and Student Life are constantly looking for new ways to reach out and support students. They only need to know which ones to reach for. Innovative methods have proved to be more useful, especially if a student hopes to remain anonymous. This particular form has proved useful at other universities, according to Webb. Student Life hopes that as the year continues, it will see the same kind of success.

"I would like to get tips from Student Life rather than have them intervene in one of my friend's or fellow student's lives," VanLith said. "It's so situational; some students might respond really well, while others might not."

Although a statistic was uncalculated, Webb said the office has received submissions from students, staff and family. "The Student of Concern Form is the only new release of its type this fall by the Student Life Office," he said. The organization is making an effort to provide what it hasn't in the past, and what other organizations haven't already covered. 

The new form isn't the only project Student Life has claimed this fall. It has teamed up with GSBA to improve relationships within the local community, particularly focusing on positive practices for off-campus students.

"Student Life encompasses almost all of the activities that take place outside the classroom from Clubelodeon to Def-Poets," Webb said. Most of the postings on The Wall are hosted in some part by Student Life, as well. According to Webb, the question "What else is Student Life up to?" has a pretty expansive answer.