Task force meets about campus alcohol problems

By Dylan Sands

Thursday, July 23, 2009

The new University Alcohol Task Force is considering several proposals to change policies regarding alcohol on campus. The task force, which includes a variety of University staff, officials and students, held its first meeting Tuesday afternoon to discuss ways to curb alcohol use in light of recent alcohol-related student deaths.

The group discussed several proposals including requiring incoming students to participate in an alcohol education program. All incoming students younger than 22 would have to complete an online course through AlcoholEdu this fall. The course includes a test at the beginning and a test at the end. The site said that the course “collects data on students’ alcohol-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.”

Marlesa Roney, vice provost for student success and head of the task force, said students who did not complete the course would have a hold placed on their enrollment. Roney described the course as informative and said she had learned a lot after she “flunked the pre-test.”

Roney proposed several other ways to decrease alcohol use on campus, including addressing alcohol consumption during tailgating events on campus.

“There isn’t a silver bullet here where one thing can solve this problem,” Roney said. “It needs to be a multi-pronged effort.”

Mason Heilman, student body president, said during the meeting that he was concerned the University was sending mixed messages in allowing alcohol at some events while barring students from drinking at others.

“It completely undermines everything we’re trying to do,” Heilman said. “I would be open to completely banning pre-game drinking. Go big or go home would be the way to go.”

Roney said the University had considered creating a “no alcohol zone” at tailgating events that would highlight ways students can have fun without drinking. “My hope is that some students realize they don’t need alcohol to enjoy their lives,” Roney said.

Ralph Oliver, chief of the office of public safety, said that drinking at tailgating events did not usually lead to significant problems, but that each event was different.

“Alcohol problems are directly related to the team we’re playing,” Oliver said.

He said that most problems occurred when the University played against Missouri.

The task force is also seeking to change the University’s chalking policy because some chalkings advertise drink specials. Roney said the University might have to ban all chalking on campus because it could not discriminate against one particular group of advertisers.

The task force plans to begin monthly meetings in early September.

— — Edited by Hannah DeClerk

Comments

eloc (anonymous) says...

This is CRAZY, a few FRATERNITY members die because of their inability to drink appropriatley, this is insane they are going to kill the football games, they are going to kill fun in this town, have fun without alcohol sounds good in all, but whats going to happen is everybody is going to be miserable, local bars and liquor stores would lose buisness, ya this is smart lets help our economy out this way, what about the business that rely on the nightlife fueled by alcohol in this town, I am sorry but banning pre-game drinking is probably about the dumbest thing i have ever heard ever

July 25, 2009 at 5:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

eloc (anonymous) says...

mason hitler

July 25, 2009 at 5:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KS (anonymous) says...

This is absolutely asinine! People need to take their own responsiblity when they drink. Don't let a couple frat guys ruin everybody else's time just because they were irresponsible. Mason Heilman is being a debbie downer! If you ban drinking from pre gaming then the student section at football games will be considerably smaller. So Heilman can take this stuiped proposal and shove it up his a*s!! Why again did people vote for this idiot?

July 25, 2009 at 5:48 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

baddabingsup (anonymous) says...

You two are incredibly daft. First off it was ONE fraternity member, one kid in a SCOLARSHIP HALL, and one kid who DIDNT GO TO THE UNIVERSITY.

People like you give drinking a bad name, you probably sit at home on friday nights drinking you're sad little life away crying.

Don't be mad at fraternities because they make up the majority of the social scene on campus.

July 31, 2009 at 12:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

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