University administrators made clear late last week that there are no plans to make residential advisers primary enforcers of alcohol policy. Students and administrators discussed proposed modifications to adviser rules and guidelines at a meeting of the Undergraduate Life Committee last Thursday.
The idea is "not to be punitive, to empower the advisers rather than to limit them," said William Robinson '04, student co-chair of the committee, whose meetings are not open to the public. "It was a very lively conversation," he said.
Robinson said all parts of the University community — including administrators and advisers — support the current advising system, though "there wasn't complete consensus" at the meeting.
Vice President for Campus Life Janet Dickerson and Robinson both said there was "no push" among administrators to enforce the alcohol policy through advisers.
Residential college masters — who oversee the advising program — are resistant to such changes, Robinson said.
The college masters drafted changes to the guidelines for RA behavior, most of which deal with the proper role of RAs regarding alcohol. The changes have not been formally approved or distributed to advisers.
Wilson College Master Miguel Centeno declined to comment on the changes until they have been formally adopted.
Robinson said the masters had talked with many of their advisers and other students in formulating the proposed changes.
One of the proposed sections obliges advisers to contact an assistant master of the college — who are usually graduate students, not administrators — when an advisee persists in violating University policy, according to a copy of the changes obtained by The Daily Princetonian.
The changes would also require advisers to discuss University alcohol policy with their advisees and to "maintain an ongoing dialogue with 'zees on alcohol-related issues as they arise throughout the year."
Dickerson said the changes are designed to let RAs confront the worst cases of drinking on campus. "The opportunity to confront those behaviors can bring respect and growth," she said.
Dean of Undergraduate Students Kathleen Deignan was unavailable for comment.
Some advisers had previously expressed fears that the administration planned to use them in a policing role.
The current proposal is more modest than a previous one that would have asked advisers to report violations to Public Safety, one adviser said. That proposal is now "no longer on the table," the adviser said.
Robinson said the council of masters decided against the stronger measure.
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