The administration’s optimism over the new alcohol policy changes has not been matched by students’ reactions.
“We are not appeased by the policy and demand to be heard,” Pat DePoy (COL ‘09), president of “Work Hard, Play Hard—GU Students for Stopping the Madness” said. DePoy, who was included in discussions with Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson, said the group is planning a protest in Healy Circle for tonight. So far, the Facebook event publicizing the protest has 630 confirmations and 400 “maybes.”
“I am confident that we can move forward together to achieve the appropriate balance between student safety and social opportunities,” Olson wrote in the e-mail he sent last week about the University’s modifications to the new alcohol policy.
The only explicit change Olson outlined in last Thursday’s e-mail was the reduction from two 21-year-old hosts for a party to one. He also addressed a point of concern for many students, the three-strike violation policy, clarifying that suspension will be a case-by-case basis.
Douglas Finley (COL ‘08), who had just been to the newly-mandated “how to host a party” session, said he thinks the policy is all about school politics
“If somebody gets in trouble or does something stupid, the school’s hands are clean because they have this policy,” Finley said.
Student Association President Ben Shaw (COL ‘08) spelled out what Olson didn’t directly state in the e-mail: previous alcohol violations will not be counted.
“There are eight to ten people on campus who are on probation – everyone else has a clean slate in terms of alcohol violations,” Shaw said. “Things are beginning … Now that [the administration] understands that the policy needs work, they are taking steps to address it … Are we satisfied with the policy? No. Is it a tremendous first step? Yes.”
But Olson does not seem about to revise much more than he already has.
“While major revisions to the alcohol policy are not likely at this time, I am committed to continuing our conversation with students about these issues and to working with staff and students as we seek the appropriate implementation of them,” Olson wrote in an e-mail to the Voice.
Regardless, Shaw said that he would work to push back the 10 a.m. party registration deadline, which he considers “restrictive,” in addition to ensuring that enforcement is more reasonable.
“The whole policy is way too open-ended, and needs to be clarified much better,” DePoy said. “[It] was seen as an insult by the members of our group. It will not restore the safe and fun social scene we love, and it won’t eliminate the culture of fear and paranoia so palpable at this school right now.”
Other students echoed DePoy’s discontent, and confusion over the policy has not dissipated much since the new changes were announced.
“I think the changes are very trivial, there are no real substantial changes, and I think the administration just put us under the impression that they’re changing things,” Mike Hansen (COL ‘11) said.
