Focus should center on responsibility

Alcohol has long been the subject of controversy at IU. Students and administrators have constantly discussed the best way to ensure students follow both city and University alcohol laws and how to encourage responsible drinking both on and off campus.\nCurrently the IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct prohibits unauthorized possession or use of alcoholic beverages on campus and during activities sponsored by student organizations. \nNow the Campus-Community Commission on Alcohol Abuse, a group composed of students, faculty, staff and Bloomington community members, is proposing sweeping changes in how alcohol violations are enforced at IU. While their goals are laudable and their ideas to increase alcohol education are admirable, many of the recommendations go beyond simply trying to stop the number of underage or irresponsible drinkers.\nMany of these propositions stand to inconvenience all students on campus, regardless of whether they are of legal drinking age and drink responsibly. Some parts of the report, namely requiring freshmen to attend an alcohol awareness session at summer orientation, promote education on responsible drinking. But most of the report seems intended to stop all drinking. This completely overlooks the thousands of students who do drink responsibly and follow University rules and regulations.\nOne of the recommendations in the report is to increase the number of Friday and morning classes to curb students from going out and drinking Thursday nights. The group suggests that Friday morning sections be added for classes in popular majors and core courses in particular. Many students on this campus do not schedule Friday classes for purposes having nothing to do with drinking, such as allowing themselves to go home for long weekends, to have time to work or attend meetings for extracurricular organizations. \nAnother suggestion in the report targets curbing tailgating festivities at football games. While alcohol is present at tailgating parties, the main purpose behind these celebrations is to promote school spirit and support IU athletics. Many alumni, obviously of drinking age, participate in the event as part of IU tradition. \nOther recommendations include working with bar owners to curb promotions centered around drinking games or contests; requiring most freshmen to live in an on-campus residence hall; and hiring graduate students for alcohol "party patrols." \nWhen students leave for college they receive a tremendous amount of independence. With that independence comes the need to learn personal responsibility. The University is a "dry campus" and already has an alcohol policy in place it should enforce. Educational programs can help supplement the existing policies to promote responsible drinking. Most of the suggestions in the report go well beyond supporting safe drinking and should be amended.\nStaff Vote: Unanimous