News
Policy targets alcohol intake
Looking for a print version?
Simply use your browser’s ‘Print’ command and a printer-friendly document will be generated automatically.
Also by Nick Penzenstadler:
- UW probes frat after allegation of hazing event (May 7, 2008)
- Cartoon attacks David Horowitz (May 6, 2008)
- Organization confident 'Sex Toys 101' will go on (May 1, 2008)
- Law School shuts down 'Sex Toys 101' talk (April 30, 2008)
Sharing tools:
E-mail this article:
A controversial policy introduced by the University of Wisconsin Student Organization Office may drastically limit the consumption of alcohol by student organization members both on and off campus.
The proposal, though in its preliminary stages, has already caused a stir among registered student organization members and has them worried about its broad guidelines.
"It's very vague — the term 'student group' is vague because you can be a [registered student organization] and it can just be you and your friends hanging socially," Associated Students of Madison chair Dylan Rath said. "I think it's just too much of a blanket policy."
In the draft, now circulating student organization leaders, UW calls for "group responsibility" by defining "clear and concise alcohol standards and measures of accountability" regarding alcohol consumption.
Interim Associate Dean of Students Elton Crim said the decision to draft the policy stemmed from a UW System conference last year regarding legal concerns.
"It has got all to do with risk management and liability issues having to do with university organizations and clubs," Crim said, "very similar to issues that stem out of Greek life."
According to Wisconsin Union Directorate member Mitra Jalali, students against the proposal are hosting a meeting at 8:30 tonight in the Memorial Union, and will discuss strategies for a press conference Tuesday evening officially opposing the proposal.
Crim said the proposed policy aims to set standards for UW-sponsored activities. The policy is not an attempt to broadly prohibit alcohol among all student organization members, he added.
According to Crim, the students behind the rally are from Hoofers, a UW outdoor recreation organization. Crim added they were invited to discuss the policy, but cut off communication because they were unhappy with the direction.
"So rather than continuing, they've chosen to have this press conference and say we're trying to install some type of Prohibition," Crim said, "which simply isn't true."
No one from Hoofers could be reached for comment late Sunday.
Rachel Butler, a member of the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, said she is confused as to why registered student organization members were specifically targeted by the policy.
And Jalali said the UW administration aimed the policy toward the most involved students on campus.
"It targets [registered student organizations] because they have contact info and know how to get a hold of them," Jalali said. "To be placing restrictions on them is unfair."
Rath also said he is worried the policy will backfire and end up punishing some of the most responsible students on campus. Many students also expressed concern about programs that may be harmed, such as wine-appreciation and bartending mini-classes offered through the university.
Crim said the policy would not be enforced by the administration unless behavior also breaks other UW standards.
"Really, to be quite honest, there's absolutely no way to enforce it," Crim said. "Much like with Greek life, if we get reports then those reports would be investigated and put to a committee with staff and students, and those students adjudicate their own process. It's not administrators unless they rose to a level of egregious behavior."
Butler said the policy appears to be UW administration treating students without respect for their decision making.
"From what I've seen, it does look like this is another step to taking a bite out of student rights," Butler said. "It's treating students — who are adults — like we can't make our decisions. I think that's unfortunate."
9 Comments | Leave a comment
Leave a comment
Herald Blogs
The Beat Goes On
Muckrakers
President’s Visit Marked a Speech to One of the Last Groups Not Critical of Him
Extra Points
Top Classified Ads (view all)
HOUSES FOR Fall 2010. All houses are on W Dayton or N Bassett. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 bedrooms. All have parking. madisoncampusrentals.com
Where is Ashok Kumar to protect us? Can we hold a sit-in? Maybe in Crim’s office. Does Crim smell like poo? No way Kumar would ever say that. Wanna know why? Do some research. Talk about a double standard, Mr. Kumar!
Students must stand up against this policy! It has the potential to punish very responsible students! CHANGE THE DRAFT!
Butler said. "It's treating students — who are adults — like we can't make our decisions. I think that's unfortunate." Guess what, if you get drunk and jump off your balcony, I bet there is a good chance that your parents are going to sue the University. This new policy is meant to cover the University’s ass when a student makes a stupid adult decision and your parents start to scream that the University didn’t do enough to protect you.
Too many people (students) want the freedom to make their own decisions but run like hell when it’s time to take responsibility for them. Heck our country’s head decider has yet to take responsibility for his well thought-out decisions.
Looks like the chancellor is going to find more ways to punish groups…like the band.
My parents would kill me if I got drunk and jumped off a balcony.
alot of groups have events that are not really sponsored by the organization itself, it is simply a group of friends with similar interests who may gather after a meeting or event and drink. If it is not an officially sponsored organization event, and especially if it is held off campus, then the university has no say in it. If there is underage drinking, then that would be an issue for the madison police department, not the university. The whole thing is retarded.
This is absolutely foolish. How about the school just encourages us to be responsible yet festive, tuition paying students? That and don’t end up at detox. If you do, you deserve whatever punishment or humiliation you get, not the Student Organizations who rejected your ass.
Hey 8:53, The solution to people not wanting to take responsibility for their actions is not to infantilize them, it’s to make them take responsibility.
In fall 2004, some kid actually DID get drunk and jump off a balcony.. well, he fell. Did his parents sue? I don’t know, but I can’t imagine what grounds they would have, considering he was at a party.
For the life of me, I can’t understand why everyone is trying to make Madison and UW-Madison progressively shittier. I mean, just look at Halloween and Mifflin. Smoking ban? The bullshit just keeps a-piling.
The return of “in loco parentis”?
It’s just loco crazy.