Editorial: Lifting of restrictions on Alcohol Initiative funding is unwise

Two weeks ago, President Shirley Tilghman lifted the restriction requiring all events funded by the Alcohol Initiative to be held Thursday or Saturday nights. The Editorial Board is skeptical that this change will enhance the effectiveness of the Alcohol Initiative and recommends the adoption of a policy similar to the previous one.

Given that one of the primary purposes of the Alcohol Initiative is to promote social alternatives to drinking, sponsoring events at times when drinking is not the social norm seems ineffective. The most important aspect of the Alcohol Initiative’s work is its sponsorship of weekend events that bring together all students — drinkers and non-drinkers alike — so that the latter group is not excluded from a campus culture that often revolves around drinking. This goal is not enhanced by promoting events that occur, for example, on a Tuesday evening, when there is virtually no pressure for students to drink alcohol.

Another problem with allowing students to apply for funding for events held at any time during the week is that student groups will have less incentive to hold alcohol-free events between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. on weekends, when a significant amount of high-risk drinking takes place. As a result, student groups that might have rescheduled an event in order to receive extra funding will feel less pressure to do so, though it should be noted that there is still a priority given to groups whose events fall on weekend nights.

There are, however, aspects of the expanded system that could prove to be beneficial. Primarily, the expansion of opportunities means that educational events, which are probably least likely to be attended on Thursday and Saturday nights, can happen during the week instead, which might increase attendance. Furthermore, the new allowance for funding on Fridays and on other special nights when drinking is more common, such as Dean’s Date, is in line with the mission of the Alcohol Initiative and will increase its efficacy.

Despite these positive features of the Alcohol Initiative’s expansion, the Editorial Board doubts that the benefits in terms of reduction of high-risk drinking will be worth the cost of funding weekday events. The most direct and effective way to provide healthy alternatives to drinking on campus is to sponsor events that coincide with parties where alcohol is served, which usually take place on Thursday and Saturday nights. The University should consider adopting a modified policy, in which sponsored events may only be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and on other nights throughout the year when alcohol consumption tends to be high. Particularly in this time of budget cuts, the Alcohol Initiative should restrict its funding to events that will most directly help it fulfill its mission.

Britt Sanders ’13 recused herself from voting on this editorial.