APAC mulls alcohol rule changes
The Alcohol Policy Advisory Committee will continue its discussion of alcohol-related issues this week in order to achieve a consensus for its final report to be released to Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson Feb. 1.
APAC is equally made up of college presidents, chief justices and masters and was formed in order to present student feedback for potential changes to the alcohol policy. The recommendations will go through Dean of Undergraduates and the Board of Trustees for approval.
APAC member and Baker College president Maria Pickett said various ideas have arisen as a result of discussions among the committee, including a hard liquor ban, an increase in the amount of training required for hosts and a cap on the number of people allowed at private parties.
According to APAC member and McMurtry College president Peter Abraham, no final decisions have been reached on these issues.
"We did discuss a punch ban, but the hard liquor ban took precedence [in the discussion]," Abraham, a junior, said. "We haven't made a decision either way."
Pickett said the idea of instituting a maximum capacity for private parties would serve to further delineate between private and public events. Any party with more people than the determined maximum would be considered a public event, Pickett said.
Pickett confirmed that no consensus had been reached on either issue and emphasized the educational component of the policy.
"Regardless of whatever policies we propose, we want to make sure chief justices have a support system and the training they need," Pickett said.
However, Pickett said she did not think the administration would take any drastic measures at this point.
"I don't think campus will go dry," Pickett said. "I think being a wet campus is part of our culture and changing that would drive people off campus and create potentially unsafe situations."
Hanszen College freshman Brett Leatherwood said he was glad APAC could provide student feedback to the administration.
"Even though it's a tough situation, I think it's good that they are going to listen to recommendations from students," Leatherwood said. "My guess is that they're going to try to get rid of all hard liquor. They're in a tough situation with all the outside pressure that came after [Night of Decadence]."
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