Tickets ready for alcohol issue

Student representatives have been excluded from Bloomington's Campus-Community Commission on Alcohol Abuse -- until now. The commission, which released its "Factors and Recommendations" policy last summer regarding alcohol abuse, has agreed to open 10 seats on the commission for students. Four positions are still available. \n"We are looking for students who are willing to put effort into this," said sophomore Jon Schurger, who, after reading an article in the IDS Nov. 30, became furious and decided to take action. \nTwo weeks ago, Schurger accompanied candidates on the Synergy ticket to Chancellor Sharon Brehm's office to discuss the issue.\n"We aren't waiting until we get elected," said junior Brian Daviduke, Synergy ticket candidate for student body president.\nSchurger, along with junior Justin Barnes, the Synergy ticket candidate for vice president of administration; junior Kerry Hall, Synergy's treasurer candidate; and junior Laura Walda, a Synergy staff member, met with Brehm to discuss the commission's recommendations. \n"When we talked to Brehm, she said that not many students had contacted her, so she didn't think it was as big of an issue to students as it really is," Schurger said.\nBrehm then referred Schurger to Dean of Students Richard McKaig, who suggested that 10 student seats be opened to encourage student input. Only six of those spots have been filled. \nHe added that the students will be expected to give up occasional Friday afternoons to help research and eventually recommend a successful alcohol policy with student backing.\nThe alcohol policy has been a hot topic in the upcoming IUSA election Feb. 26-27 -- especially among the prospective candidates.\n"The student body needs to be more outspoken," Schurger said.\nHe urged students to vote in the IUSA elections for candidates who will do more for student's civil rights issues.\nSpecifically, the proposed policy suggests that "individual schools should be encouraged to schedule more Friday and morning classes; in particular, core courses for popular majors."\nDaviduke said the attempt to curb Thursday night drinking is ridiculous. \n"People are still going to drink on Thursday nights, and if they did have early Friday morning classes, they would just have lower attendance," Daviduke said.\nThe commission's recommendations also say that "immediately following an incident in which a person says (to an RA, IUPD, or other) 'I was drinking at _____,' have IUPD go to that place, make arrests if appropriate and document the situation."\nIUSA candidates of all tickets expressed opposition to this stipulation.\n"They are making criminals out of people who aren't criminals," said sophomore Bill Gray, Kirkwood ticket candidate for student body president. \nJeff Wuslich, a sophomore and Steel ticket candidate for student body president, agreed.\n"Students are assumed to be guilty before proven innocent, and it should be the other way around," Wuslich said.\nHe went on to add that he thinks this system would inevitably be flawed, as students could lie about where they were.\nThe commission also suggested that the names of IU students who have been charged with substance abuse offenses through Monroe County Court be forwarded to IU.\n"IU shouldn't worry about trouble students have gotten into off-campus," Daviduke said. "It's like two different lives."\nThe alcohol policy also recommends tailgating be regulated more closely, designating the Orange Lot at Memorial Stadium for alcohol-free tailgating parties, and prohibiting the presence of kegs at any events held on University property. \n"You can't get rid of alcohol on campus," Daviduke said. "It's a part of college. It's not gonna stop people from drinking."\nWuslich added that the commission is trying to control human behavior, something he thinks is completely unattainable.\nA major portion of the recommendation is designated for regulating the greek community, including that each house be required to hire live-in supervision for enforcing the alcohol policy and mandate IUPD security for all registered programs or parties. Each IUSA ticket clearly stated its opposition to the policy's focus on the greek system.\nThe Steel ticket advocated equality as a main concern when dealing with illegal consumption on campus. \n"Why is it OK to drink if you are 21 in Eigenmann and Willkie, but not in the frats?" Wuslich said, adding that if elected, the Steel ticket would push for continuity within the regulation of the alcohol policy.\nThe issue Synergy is focusing on involves registering designated drivers for fraternities and sororities with the IUPD and BPD in order to protect those who aren't drinking. \n"We think this is a great idea because frats and sororities are doing a good thing already and looking out for themselves and others by having designated drivers," Daviduke said. "Those students shouldn't be penalized if pulled over."\nKirkwood is also concentrating on the greek system, suggesting that every fraternity be required to read a letter that says it can't get in trouble for taking someone to the hospital if drinking has been involved. \n"The way the system is right now (is) deterring people from doing the right thing," Gray said.