SAPC seeking new student alcohol policy

In an effort to reform the GCSU student alcohol and illegal drugs policy, the Student Government Association brought a motion before the Student Affairs Policy Committee during the committee’s latest meeting Nov 6. The new proposal centers around a new tailgating provision that would allow alcohol use as well as establish designated “family-friendly” zones at athletic and other big events on campus. The new policy drafted by the SAPC closely resembles that of Georgia Tech.

“The current alcohol policy we have is old and lengthy and it contradicts itself,” SGA President Zach Mullins said. “So we’re looking to clean up that policy.”

GCSU Public Safety was supportive of the policy but said it would not want to be charged with patrolling underage drinking at the tailgating events.

The committee determined that a “major events committee” would have to be established and would have to include Athletics, Parking, Public Safety, Student Affairs and Campus Life. That committee would then decide on rules and procedures to consider in coordinating a tailgating event. In addition, an amnesty policy that would protect those who do not drink would be put in.

As part of the proposed tailgating provision, there would be designated tailgating zones in which alcohol could be consumed by students of age. There would also be “family friendly zones” in which no alcohol would be allowed.

Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Dr. Bruce Harshbarger pointed out there are several issues to be resolved.

“I think most of the people think that tailgating is a fun activity. There are of course some logistical issues with making it work,” Harshbarger said. “You’ve got to take into account those who are not of age. You’ve got to make sure parking doesn’t take up space in the tailgating zones.”

Executive Director of University Housing Larry Christenson expressed some of those same concerns.

“I’m a little concerned that (the tailgating component) is moving so quickly without discussing some of these issues,” Christenson said. “Resident hall students park around the Centennial Center and may be forced to move their cars to accommodate the tailgating zones.”

Christenson also voiced concern over the message the allowing of alcohol could send out.

“I think students are able to learn responsibility with alcohol, and that’s okay, but it could raise issues around the image we want to project,” he said.

Mullins said one of the main goals is educational in its scope.

“We need to realize that college students drink, and we have the ability to better educate our students who are going to be drinking on being responsible being that we are a liberal arts college,” he said.

Harshbarger echoed those thoughts.

“We’re all about teaching responsibility here,” he said.

Mullins added that the committee wants to make sure they get a good policy hammered out. Once the committee votes on the bill, it will be sent to the University Senate, which will be the ultimate deciding factor.

“We want to take some more time with this and get Legal Affairs to take a look at it and make sure everything is in compliance,” Mullins said.

Harshbarger said GCSU has the option of allowing alcohol on its own property. The current policy states that the sale, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages on all GCSU owned or leased (by) property or on sidewalks or streets is prohibited, with the exception of those designated annually by the office of Student Affairs.

“We have that right to establish alcohol zones that wouldn’t apply off campus,” he said. “That’s something that I’m sure we will want to take our time with Legal Affairs and get everything straight.”

Harshbarger added cleaning up the policy was the major goal.

“The current one in place has 27 clauses. We were due for an overhaul. Over time you can get a policy that may be both redundant and contradictory,” he said. “So the SGA is looking for two basic things: One is a more concise and clarified alcohol policy and the other is a new tailgating provision that could potentially do some good things.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Nov 20 2009. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry