While most students probably don't keep a copy of "Rights, Rules, Responsibilities" by their bedside table, a few recent changes to the University's alcohol policies have not gone unnoticed.
As part of its October/November issue, Tiger Magazine started a petition against a new rule forbidding students to serve alcohol to another person — "regardless of his or her age" — without first receiving consent from the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students. The prohibition applies both on and off campus.
"The sentiment behind [the petition] was humorously shocked disbelief — we were as surprised to read the new policy as anyone," said David Harris '07, editor-in-chief of the magazine.
"Preventing a student from buying his friend a drink? Making us get permission to work as a bartender? Not letting us pour out the wine at Thanksgiving dinner?"
"Virtually every single person with whom I've discussed the policy has agreed that it just makes no sense," Harris said.
By starting the petition, the magazine hoped that students "would see the absurdity" of the rule and begin a dialogue with Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Hilary Herbold, Harris said. Herbold could not be reached for comment over the weekend.
The magazine's website had facetiously prompted students "to set up an appointment [with Herbold] during the last week of classes to ask permission to legally serve alcohol over [their] vacation."
In the meantime, the USG has begun discussing the issue with Public Safety and members of the administration. Though he has not been collaborating with Tiger Magazine on the petition, incoming USG president Rob Biederman '08, a former member of the Tiger Magazine staff, agreed that the "rather unenforceable" new University alcohol policy "seems odd" and "merits further consideration."
Issues of enforceability aside, it appears that few students are even aware that the rule exists. "It sort of appeared out of the blue, and I didn't understand what its motivation was," USG academics chair Caitlin Sullivan '07 said.
She added that it would be helpful to hear the University's stance on the policy, as most students have only heard of it in a "somewhat ridiculous context."
"I'm skeptical that that's what its actual intent was," said Sullivan, referring to students' interpretation of the regulation.
At the time of publication, Tiger's petition had attracted 174 online signatures.
"A link to the petition was circulated on a variety of e-mail lists," Harris noted, "so I'm pretty sure the discussion has legs."
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