President Bacow led an informal discussion last night in West Hall, where the interaction with students about campus alcohol and social policies was frank and sometimes brusque on both sides.
Many students used the discussion to sound off on their frustrations surrounding some University policies. Several expressed concern about the lack of social events on campus.
"Do you want me throwing parties for you?" Bacow asked at one point.
"Just because you pay tuition doesn't make you or us exempt from the law," he said. "If I had it my way, the drinking age would be 18. But that's not the law."
Some students suggested that the University turn a blind eye to drinking on campus. "We can't say 'anything goes' and then wait until someone dies," Bacow said in response.
But many students pointed to the University's recent stance on alcohol as causing the dearth of parties on campus, criticizing it as too antagonistic.
One student spoke about the seemingly ubiquitous presence of police officers on party nights on Friday and Saturday nights. He suggested that the police not "hassle" partygoers in order to eliminate "a standoff where there doesn't have to be a standoff."
Bacow, however, made it clear that "the police presence is almost always notified by a phone call, which we can't ignore." He also said the police are not as hostile as many students make them out to be.
"If you're a freshman and you're caught with a beer in your hand, you won't get arrested, you'll just be told to pour it out," he said.
Sophomore John Loof questioned the strength of the alcohol policy as a whole, including the University's approach to alcoholism, saying the University should foster a more interactive and tolerant relationship between students and staff, including the police. According to Loof, this would create a healthier environment for preparing students to deal with alcohol.
"This is a far more forgiving and understanding place than what you're likely to find when you leave here," Bacow said, referring specifically to the recent acquisition of Margot Abels, director of the alcohol and drug prevention program of Health Services.
Bacow agreed that students should experiment "because that's the only way they'll learn," but added that this should not occur "in an environment where they go too far because there were no limits."
He also responded to questions about the state of community relations with Tufts
specifically with regards to noise. "If the only time neighbors interact with students is when they're in an inebriated state, let's face it, they'll form a bad opinion of them," he said.
Students do have opportunities to reach out to the community, Bacow said, pointing to events like Community Day, which brings Tufts' neighbors to campus, and the new advisory board in the Tufts Community Union Senate on community relations.
He also encouraged fraternities and sororities to reach out to the communities, citing his experience as a member of a fraternity at MIT, where the brothers would have periodic neighborhood teas in the house.
"All I ask of you is to be who you say you are," he said, noting that virtually all charters for fraternities encourage development of leadership and service. "I don't require you to take that pledge, so if you take it then mean it," he said.
Students also posed several questions about University fundraising efforts. "The bulk of the money will go to support students and faculty," Bacow said. A "modest" amount would be spent on facilities.
He reminded students that the University has set fundraising records over the past two years. Last year, it netted $116 million, including the $50 million Cummings donation to the Veterinary School.
One of the University's priorities is increasing financial aid, he said, describing Tufts current admissions policy as "need-aware." Because the University will fulfill the need of any student that is admitted, "we admit people without regard to need up until a certain point, when we feel we've exhausted our financial resources," he said.
Bacow also said money would be devoted to endowing faculty chairs and creating more competitive start-up packages for faculty, as well as to foster cooperation between Tufts' schools.
In addition, he spoke about certain facilities initiatives in the works. Sophia Gordon Hall, the dormitory set to be located on Talbot Ave., will most likely be completed by Fall 2006 and house juniors and seniors.
He also mentioned a new "Integrative Lab Complex" next to Dowling Hall that would combine engineering and biology labs.
"One of the risks in my job is getting isolated, so I try to avoid that by doing things like this," Bacow said.<$>
