Chancellor John Wiley attended Wednesday’s meeting of the Associated Students of Madison to further clarify his stance on regulating drink specials in Madison bars.
Wiley said drinking is a major issue on campus, and his reasons for opposing drink specials stem from a desire to promote a campus atmosphere focusing less on drinking and more on other forms of entertainment.
“I hope to gradually change the culture on campus,” Wiley said. “You can have all kinds of fun without getting wasted.”
Wiley said the university spends over $150,000 annually cleaning up after vandalism and damage caused on campus on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and that 91 UW- Madison students have been taken to a detox facility this school year alone. He said he hoped to decrease these statistics if drink specials were eliminated and alcohol was more costly in general.
“A 10 percent increase in the price [of alcohol] means consumption will drop 4 percent,” Wiley said.
At the meeting, Wiley also defended his decision to stop selling the 46-ounce paper cup of beer at Memorial Union. In its place, the Union will now offer a 46-ounce pitcher, like they offered before.
“I think this is symbolic more than real,” Wiley said. “Whenever the bartenders served the 46-ounce beers, they were supposed to ask if the person wanted cups.”
Wiley said the 46-ounce beer was never intended to be a single drink but was intended to be used as a pitcher.
“I told them to ignore the auditors and go back to pitchers,” he said.
ASM member Ryan Nichols said he was pleased with the dialogue between ASM and Wiley.
“I have a lot more respect for him now that he has clarified his position on things,” Nichols said. “He’s a very intelligent man. I don’t agree with a total ban on drink specials, but I agree with Wiley that focusing on alternatives to drinking is one way to go.”
Other members of ASM were not as happy with Wiley’s opinions.
ASM member Drew Horn said he wasn’t certain if he believed Wiley.
“I think Wiley was lacking statistical evidence to back up a lot of his claims.” Horn said. “A lot of questions about his claims he tried to divert to other issues.”
In other business, the council voted on appointments for chair of the finance committee. The two candidates for the position were Rob Welygan and Brad Schuth.
Welygan won by a 14-13 vote of the council.
“I am excited. I look forward to a successful year of finance. I’m hoping this Ninth Session finance committee can improve our goals to serve the student body,” he said.
ASM member David Presberry said the close vote signified deeper issues within the council.
“I think this is a foreshadowing of the deep political split on council,” Presberry said. “I hope the finance committee will be able to get along with the new chair.”
