Community Council Update

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Community Council met to discuss hard alcohol policies, party registration and party monitors. In the previous meeting, Dean of Students Katy Smith Abbott and Coach Bob Ritter, co-chairs of the 2011-2012 Task Force on Alcohol and Social Life, spoke about Task Force’s report, the role of hard liquor on campus as well as changing the College’s culture around alcohol.

This week’s meeting focused on continuing last week’s discussion where members of the Council unanimously agreed that a ban on hard alcohol would not be effective in changing student behavior.

“Rules surrounding alcohol often just push alcohol use and abuse behind doors …,” said Student Government Association President Rachel Liddell ’15. “I just don’t see in my time here a hard alcohol ban ever having a positive influence.”

Dean of the College and Community Council Co-Chair Shirley Collado agreed.

“I don’t think anyone was coming easily to the conclusion that we should ban hard alcohol,” Collado said, but also pointed out that the data regarding hard alcohol on campus is very concerning and that hard liquor is the root of the many problems happening on campus, including alcohol transport, dorm damage and other college policy violations.

A couple members applauded the work of the commons deans and other staff and faculty members around alcohol use. Deans use their personal discretion when they meet with students who have violated alcohol related policies.

“[The deans] are very good at what they do [and it would be a good idea to] even empower them more,” said  Horticulturalist Tim Parsons from Facilities Services.

“The problems that come with alcohol abuse are on a case by case basis and to allow discretion for commons deans […] sounded like a very helpful idea,” said Community Council Co-Chair Luke Carroll Brown ’14.

Collado further described the amount of work that staff and faculty members put into noticing and dealing with problems before something severe happens and a student meets with a dean.

“There is a lot of triaging work that happens,” Collado said. “It might come from a custodial worker who’s noticing something and is really concerned [or] a public safety officer who’s noticing something [even though he or she] might not have necessarily cited a student. It is important not to dilute [their work].”

The issue concerning party registration was also discussed at the meeting. Dean of Students Doug Adams pointed out that while there are many responsible students who participate in registered parties, unregistered parties are the true source of problems involving alcohol.

“[We should] find a place within our polices to encourage more registered parties by discouraging unregistered parties,” Adams said, arguing for tougher sanctions against unregistered parties that are “more meaningful and lasting.”

Collado’s email from October, which contained policy changes with regards to party registration, was also mentioned.

“If you read the bulk of the email,” Collado said, “[you would find that] it is great news for the students.”

However, even though the policy changes made the party registering process easier, a few members of the Council still expressed hope for an easier process.

The discussion then turned to the possibility of a party monitor system. Models from other schools were discussed, such as Haverford and Dartmouth which both have students groups to regulate alcohol consumption at parties. But the Council emphasized the importance of considering the differences between the College and the other schools in terms of campus culture, location and size, changes in order to create a system that works.

After a short discussion of creating alternative social events for students to attend, the Council was adjourned.