Liberal alcohol policies can prevent alcohol abuse, students say

Many Tufts students have become more sensitive to the variations in different universities' alcohol policies after the temporary closings of the Greek houses Zeta Psi, Alpha Phi and Delta Upsilon in the last few weeks.

Some universities' alcohol policies, such as that of Brandeis University in Waltham, MA, involve more cooperation between students and administrators than normally takes place at Tufts. At Brandeis, the entire student body will be invited to a student-hosted event known as "Mod-Fest" in about two weeks, where those who present identification can enjoy a beer from one of the fifteen 30-packs provided by privately collected money.

The event, which invites students into an on-campus apartment shared by six seniors, allows partygoers to enjoy a typical party atmosphere under the watch of campus policemen.

Students at Haverford College in Haverford, PA, though they do not have school-wide parties like Mod-Fest, enjoy an alcohol policy that student council president Scott Simpson calls "fairly liberal and progressive." Students are made aware that drinking under the age of 21 is illegal, but the campus police force is not allowed to step in and break up parties in dorm rooms, regardless of the age of those hosting. Students risk facing charges from local police, but not from college security.

What makes the alcohol policies at Brandeis and Haverford different from that at Tufts is that a great deal of collaboration exists between students and administrators, student council representatives from those schools said.

The communication between students and administrators that goes into creating the policy creates valuable dialogue at Haverford, Simpson said. "It builds this kind of community of trust. Students understand that this policy is a privilege so I don't think they feel the need to abuse it," he said.

At Brandeis, the weeks of planning that precede Mod-Fest involve student-administrator planning for police and safety, which senior senator Aziz Nekoukar said allows for safe alcohol consumption. "This party is without a doubt proof of students having a reasonable social outlet, where alcohol is present, and handling it healthily and in good spirits," he said.

Both Simpson and Nekoukar said that the liberal policies bring together students on an otherwise disjointed campus. According to Nekoukar, the most recent Mod-Fest drew in roughly 700 students, or 20 percent of the campus. "It is near impossible to get 700 Brandeis students to do anything," Nekoukar said.

But while many students emphasize the benefits that come from the increased collaboration necessary to prepare these types of events and policies, Tufts administrators are unsure of the success they would have here.

Encouraging students to drink in a forum where a non-licensed party is providing the alcohol is a serious concern, Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said. While Tufts students have the opportunity to attend social events where alcohol is served -- including Senior Pub Night and many of the Senior Week activities -- such events are hosted by Tufts Catering, which is licensed to provide alcohol, and checks identification before serving. Ensuring that only 21-year-olds are drinking may not occur at events similar to Mod-Fest, Reitman said.

For seniors who remember the failure of "DEF-Jam" -- the three-tower Latin Way party that brought the TUPD and students into a confrontation in the 2000 spring semester -- a Tufts version of Mod-Fest may seem impossible.

But at Brandeis and Haverford, students said that a university with a strict alcohol policy will not bring campus drinking to an end altogether. Instead, they said, drinking and partying will take place off campus or in dorm rooms.

"I think a university that provides a safe outlet for their students to drink is not only not a bad thing, but it is both necessary and entirely healthy for student life and satisfaction," Nekoukar said.

Simpson agreed, citing safety as Haverford's first priority. "Instead of making it into a cat and mouse game, they try to keep everyone safe," he said. While the college emphasizes that under-age drinking is illegal, it also urges moderation. "It's just nice not to have to sneak around," Simpson said.

But binge drinkers may not see an increase in the number of such University-student planned events as a benefit, Reitman said. "People who want to get trashed won't go to these events," he said, and University collaboration will not necessarily stop people from drinking in their rooms.

One anonymous Brandeis student agreed that even at an event like Mod-Fest, where carding for 21-year-olds is supposed to occur, "people are going to come tanked anyway."

According to Simpson, though, the policy actually encourages students to avoid binge drinking. "I think part of the reason [that the policy is successful] is that this policy does urge moderation," he said.

The University has been flexible in adapting its policies to student desires, Reitman said, citing the recent changes to the Spring Fling weekend -- which will now allow students with adequate identification to bring a six pack of beer into the concert. That decision was made after students complained that 21-year-olds did not want the event to remain completely dry, he said.

Changes that will be made to the next Naked Quad Run are also a sign of student-administrator collaboration, Reitman said. An e-mail from University President Larry Bacow after last year's run threatened to eliminate the event, but Reitman said that student support for the run will now require changes to be made instead.