Joe Mabus, senior communications studies major, initiated a group to address issues involving victims of trauma and mental illnesses in the Eastern community and terms surrounding them such as “disciplinary action,” “behavioral contracts” and “liability.”

The group currently has no formal title, officers or regular meeting time, but circulates flyers and has met twice and inviting any campus or community members to “Join the Discussion.”

Mabus said 15 campus and community members attended the groups first meeting.

Eleven people attended the second meeting, which began at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Jackson Avenue Coffee and lasted approximately an hour and a half.

The group opened with a brief overview of articles about Eastern students, Nichole D’Antonio and Jill Manges, published in the Daily Eastern News the first week of October and November 26 – 30.

D’Antonio and Manges feel they were punished by the university for having mental disorders.

Manges had a flashback, a symptom of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, while trying to leave her classroom in Coleman Hall on Sept. 5.

Manges was offered a medical withdrawal after a judicial hearing determined she had violated the Student Code of Conduct by disrupting class. She signed the withdrawal on Sept. 20.

D’Antonio has been on a behavioral contract since Feb. 23, 2005, for an eating disorder she developed at age 14.

She had been symptom free two years prior to her transfer to Eastern in fall 2003, but the disorder reappeared after she was sexually assaulted on campus Aug. 24, 2003. D’Antonio said the contract prevents her from being honest about her disorder.

Both were present at the meeting and added personal details about their experiences with Judicial Affairs and the Counseling Center to attending community members.

Manges also announced that the Chicago Tribune had sent someone to interview her and members of the university and would be covering her story and surrounding issues in an upcoming edition.

After initial discussion of the issues, the group decided on developing a set of objectives to work towards.

Mabus, who is Manges’ boyfriend, suggested a list similar to the one developed by the Women’s Studies group sent to Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs. This letter was published in Nov. 29 issue of the DEN.

The students at the meeting agreed that they felt nothing would be done unless faculty and others from inside the administration got behind the front.

“I feel like we need the most faculty and staff support,” D’Antonio said. “Students are not enough.”

Angela Aguayo, a communications studies professor, suggested a list of concerns to give to faculty who are stepping forward about their discontent with the current university policies.

Aguayo was present at the Oct. 31 meeting between concerned faculty members and Eastern administrators.

Aguayo said there needs to be a movement from the students right now to take advantage of the faculty members who are stepping up.

“They are trying to contain this, the people they have to address, and right now that’s faculty,” she said.

The community members, faculty and students discussed elements for the list.

D’Antonio shared her concerns about students who are “unhealthy” being kicked off campus, and the members questioned the universities definitions of terms like “healthy” “eating disorder” and “imminent danger.”

The group also said they were concerned about the level of knowledge and formal qualifications the staff of Judicial Affairs has regarding mental illnesses and eating disorders.

“People who have no understanding of mental health have no right making decisions that affect the rest of your life,” said DeJernet Farder, a Charleston resident.

Deborah Thoren, a 1986 Eastern graduate and Charleston resident inquired about the types of programs are available for students with eating disorders.

She said when she was on campus there were two eating disorder support groups.

Thoren said she attended the meeting as a concerned member of the community, a former graduate and a mother of college aged children.

She initially heard about Manges’ story at the Take Back the Night March earlier this fall and read about her later in the DEN and came to discussion to find out more.

Other concerns addressed included confusion about what the counseling center can require students to do such as get blood tests and physicals done and how Judicial Affairs finds out about students with eating disorders and mental issues if the students are only speaking with members of the counseling center.

Also questioned was the appearance of mental issues drawing punitive consequences.

“Part of the problem is people go for help and it becomes a judicial issue,” said another Eastern community member.

Manges and D’Antonio both said they have been denied access to their own Judicial Affairs and Counseling Center records, this was also added to a list of objectives to investigate.

The group ended the meeting by deciding to deliberate further on a formal list of issues and to try and hammer out a concrete list of grievances and terms to formerly address the university with at next weeks meeting.

The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Jackson Avenue Coffee.

Senior University Reporter Stephen Di Benedetto contributed to this report.