By James “Buffalo” Saint Amour ’10
The Roundup
The little wooden box that sits quietly in the back of the football office never really seems to get much attention, unless someone is using it to rest a drink on.
But these boxes are in place for a reason. They are a referral system that students can use if they or someone they know are having issues with things such as drugs and alcohol.
The Student Assistance Program exists to help students with difficult problems such as drugs, alcohol and abuse. But it has not had much publicity.
It seems to me that the program is one of the most beneficial products available at Brophy.
Where else can you go if you need help in a difficult situation and not be chastised for any wrongdoings?
In an interview with The Roundup, Brophy Dean Mr. Jim Bopp stated, “There isn’t an absolutely 100 percent policy on anything, every situation is treated individually.”
I cannot think of any other school that allows their students to come to the administration and admit to doing things that could result in their expulsion and instead of being chastised, they are offered counsel on how to correct the issue.
“This school exists to help guys to learn to change a pattern of behavior and the first step of changing certain patterns of behaviors is acknowledging it’s a problem and something you want to change,” Mr. Bopp added.
But unfortunately most students are not willing to accept that there is a problem in their behavior. Sometimes their classmates are the ones who have to suggest to the administration that they require help.
This is another benefit of the SAP: students can refer their friends if they think they need help.
The largest problem with the Student Assistance Program is the fact that most students do not understand what the program is and what it does; the program is there to help students, not to punish them.
Students are encouraged to report themselves, because the administration has said before that it will be worse if the school has to come to you than if you come to the school with your problems.
So the ball is in the students’ court, so to say.
The school has tried to get the word out, and it is now up to the student body to listen and take advantage of an opportunity that is not offered everywhere.