Students, administrators gather for sober discussion on alcohol

At an alcohol forum last night, student and University leaders criticized excessive drinking on campus, but said stricter disciplinary measures could have unintended consequences.

A panel of eight administrators and students assembled last night in front of the Frist Campus Center display wall to discuss the problem and brainstorm solutions.

USG president Nina Langsam '03 and Gina Baral of Health Promotion Services organized the event, which was the first time the newly formed Alcohol Coalition engaged students in an open forum.

"We talk about alcohol like a big problem we can't overcome, but we're doing it to ourselves," Langsam said.

Several students on the panel emphasized that while alcohol consumption is not necessarily wrong, the problem is binge drinking.

"My concern is the expression of responsibility and not necessarily abstinence," said Dan Stover '03, a member of the crew team. "There is a responsible amount of alcohol that can be consumed."

In addition, students and administrators debated the role of discipline on campus. Most said they agreed that discipline may not be the most effective mechanism to discourage excessive drinking.

"If people are determined to drink, all the discipline in the world will not prevent that," said Daniel Silverman, the University's chief medical officer.

In addition, several students on the panel expressed concern that discipline would only cause more dangerous drinking habits.

"People will continue to drink, just in more hidden and more dangerous ways," said Dan Hantman '03, Inter-Club Council chair. "I'd rather they do more of the drinking on club property than not on club property."

In discussing solutions, panel members emphasized the importance of student leaders on campus.

"As student leaders we really need to step up and reach out to those going to extremes," said Cole Barfield '03, Agape president and a nondrinker.

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Kristen Smith '03, the representative for residential advisers, emphasized the importance of the first week on campus for freshmen. She noted that in the orientation process, freshmen are bombarded with information on all aspects of campus.

"In the first meeting, you have about 15 minutes to cover alcohol policies at the University," Smith said. "It's difficult to get across the importance to students."

Also, the panel discussed the role of resident advisers. An audience member praised the trust that exists between advisers and their advisees. However, another audience member criticized advisers who encourage their advisees to drink or fail to discipline their advisees for drinking.

However, as a first step, Barfield praised the initiation of dialogue.

"First and foremost is dialogue," he said. "Students . . . have really shied away from discussing [alcohol] with the administration."

The Communication Subcommittee of the Alcohol Coalition and the USG sought to represent various groups on campus. In addition to Barfield, Hantman, Silverman, Smith and Stover, the committee consisted of Emily Minkow '04, a member of a Kappa Kappa Gamma; Don Reichling, acting director of Public Safety; and Marianne Waterbury associate dean of undergraduate students.