2008 Woodie Awards
Alcohol report addresses education, Orientation
Eric Beck
Issue date: 9/14/06 Section: Campus News
The campus committee charged with reviewing the University's alcohol policy released a report last month calling for increased oversight in residence halls and an expansion of alcohol education programming for first-years, members of Greek houses and athletic teams.
Though alcohol and social events policies have long been a concern of University officials, the issue jumped to the top of the administration's agenda last November after Queer Alliance's Sex Power God party, which resulted in 24 students requiring emergency medical attention.
In response, then-Vice President for Campus Life and Student Services David Greene, who stepped down last month, created an ad hoc committee to review social events policies and asked the existing alcohol subcommittee to reconsider the University's alcohol policy. The ad hoc committee ended its work last month.
Unlike the ad hoc committee, which was created in the wake of Sex Power God and a melee on the Main Green the preceding evening that ended with shots being fired, the alcohol subcommittee is a standing subcommittee of the Campus Life Advisory Board. "Our work was not in response to any particular campus event, but was intended to be a periodic review to keep our policies and approach up-to-date and timely," the report states.
Nancy Barnett, assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown's Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies and co-chair of the subcommittee, said, "We went into the policy review wanting to take a very comprehensive look at all the different areas that are related to alcohol use at Brown."
The committee, which included representatives from the Undergraduate Council of Students, Greek Council and Students for Sensible Drug Policy, heard from students and other campus life constituencies in order to determine what alcohol-related issues face the University.
Among the recommendations included in the 23-page report is an increase in oversight in the residence halls, primarily through adjustments to the existing Residential Peer Leader program.
Though alcohol and social events policies have long been a concern of University officials, the issue jumped to the top of the administration's agenda last November after Queer Alliance's Sex Power God party, which resulted in 24 students requiring emergency medical attention.
In response, then-Vice President for Campus Life and Student Services David Greene, who stepped down last month, created an ad hoc committee to review social events policies and asked the existing alcohol subcommittee to reconsider the University's alcohol policy. The ad hoc committee ended its work last month.
Unlike the ad hoc committee, which was created in the wake of Sex Power God and a melee on the Main Green the preceding evening that ended with shots being fired, the alcohol subcommittee is a standing subcommittee of the Campus Life Advisory Board. "Our work was not in response to any particular campus event, but was intended to be a periodic review to keep our policies and approach up-to-date and timely," the report states.
Nancy Barnett, assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown's Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies and co-chair of the subcommittee, said, "We went into the policy review wanting to take a very comprehensive look at all the different areas that are related to alcohol use at Brown."
The committee, which included representatives from the Undergraduate Council of Students, Greek Council and Students for Sensible Drug Policy, heard from students and other campus life constituencies in order to determine what alcohol-related issues face the University.
Among the recommendations included in the 23-page report is an increase in oversight in the residence halls, primarily through adjustments to the existing Residential Peer Leader program.