Members discuss alcohol policy effects
By MATT BRAMANTI
News Writer
Executive cabinet members convened Monday in their first meeting of the semester to discuss the effects of the University's new alcohol policy, which went into effect last fall.
Student Body President Libby Bishop is slated to present a report of the policy's effects and student responses to it to the Board of Trustees in February. Her report will specifically address the changes regarding hall dances.
"We want to focus on the dances because that's where students' experience is and that's where the complaints have been coming from," Bishop said. Hall dances are currently allowed to be held in on-campus and off-campus venues, but not in the residence halls.
Several members criticized the dance policy, saying the new rules have made planning and logistics for dances complicated.
"It's difficult for the larger dorms to find places to hold dances," said calendar coordinator Susan Longenbaker. "[McGlinn's] SYR was in the South Dining Hall, and it was just horrid."
Judicial Council President Danielle Ledesma expressed discontent with campus locations approved by the University administration, noting that many of them are difficult to schedule. "If the administration says they have all these locations for us, they should be available and affordable," Ledesma said.
Some members expressed concern that the new policy might actually lead to more abusive drinking off-campus.
"The parties off-campus have gotten more rowdy, and I've been seeing more hard alcohol and more citations," said Club Coordination Council member Joyce Deleon.
Off-campus Co-President Dan Barabas agreed, noting the recent case of missing student Chad Sharon, who disappeared after leaving a party on Corby Street on Dec. 12 and has not been seen since.
"Nothing like that has happened before in my four years here," Barabas said.
Bishop likewise expressed concern about the effects of the dance policy on off-campus drinking.
"I'm worried about seeing an increase in the number of freshmen going off campus," Bishop said.
However, she said she was optimistic about the new alcohol policy in general.
"We're enthusiastic about working with Student Affairs to make little improvements to the dance policy," Bishop said. "We see a lot of potential for success, and we want to work to ensure that potential is fulfilled."
In other Executive Cabinet news:
u Student leaders discussed an appeal for funding from the Coalition for Asian Awareness. The CAA, an umbrella group of campus Asian-American clubs, requested $2,200 to finance its annual conference, entitled "In Focus 2003: Unlocking the Past, Shaping the Future." The conference will also have workshops on Asian cuisine, dance and crafts. The cabinet passed the request for funding unanimously.
All News Stories for Tuesday, January 21, 2003
