The College has adopted a number of recommendations from
the Alcohol Task Force that one student member said are “realistic for our
social needs, but also emphasize that we must continue to advocate responsible
and respectful drinking.”
Changes include a broadly enforced ban on hard alcohol at
all social events, removal of the two-keg limit with beer quantities determined
by size of event, and the removal of the 100-person limit with size now to be
determined by fire codes.
“Our committee has been a wonderful example of how student
and staff insights can result in a better policy for all at Union,”
said Dean of Students Steve Leavitt. “My deepest thanks to the whole committee
for all their efforts.”
The task force – 15 students and seven administrators — was
convened to assess the current policy, giving students a chance to help define
the rules in the living environment at Union. “We want
to involve students in the process of dealing with policy,” Leavitt said,
“especially on this topic, where students have a better sense of what works and
what doesn't.”
The new policy will take effect with the opening of the
2004-05 academic year.
“I firmly believe that the recommendations made by the
Alcohol Task Force for revising Union's alcohol policy
will bring about positive social change,” said committee member Meghan Bedecs
'05. “We are emphasizing and revitalizing this institution's commitment to
personal well-being while at the same time proving that students' voices are
heard and taken seriously on this campus.”
Geoff Bowman '04, another student on the committee, said,
“I hope these revisions are not only perceived by the student body as realistic
for our social needs, but also emphasize that we must continue to advocate
responsible, and respectful drinking. I hope this will alleviate social
tensions on campus and, along with the coexistence of the Greeks, themes, and
Minervas, continue us on the path to a stronger Union.”
The revised alcohol policy will:
— require substantial
food and non-alcoholic drinks at all social events serving alcohol;
— add a new
category of registered social events with alcohol for 21-year olds, to occur
during the week, with a size limit, limited quantities, organized around an
event for Minerva Houses, theme houses and Greeks;
— allow social
drinking, of beer and wine only, for 21-year-olds in a designated social space
at a strictly limited number of houses or dorms;
— enforce more stringently the ban on drinking for
underage drinkers (NY State Law);
— implement a “suspension-of-party-privileges-plus-probation”
policy for organizations hosting large-scale social events; repeated and gross violations
may result in loss of housing;
— develop more alcohol awareness programs for broad-based
alcohol education;
— augment on-campus counseling services for
alcohol-related assistance; and
— establish a standing committee on alcohol and drug use,
with prominent student membership.
“I want to thank the members of the Task Force for their
committed efforts to help us create a better and stronger community here at Union,”
said Leavitt.
Members of the Task Force are students Meghan Bedecs,
Geoff Bowman, Dan Colish, Jenn Colon, Dot Gamber, Billy Eisenhut, Rachel
Herrmann, Brian Kelley, Alex Klein, Evan Leibner, Chris Macomber, Charles May,
Peter Sage, Jessie Starr and Joanna Stern; Chuck Assini, College attorney; Todd
Clark, director of Residential Life; Chris Hayen, Campus Safety; Steve Leavitt,
Dean of Students; Sharron McCullough, director of the Health Center; Matt
Milless, director of Student Activities; and Bill Sickinger, Director of Campus
Safety.