The Tufts community has in the past year engaged in a wide-ranging discussion about alcohol use — and misuse — on campus. This debate was sparked by a number of factors, most notably the administration's introduction of a harsher alcohol policy at the start of the 2009-2010 academic year.
This policy was created in the context of unfortunate, alcohol-related misbehavior that marred university-sponsored events in the 2008-2009 academic year, such as Winter Bash and Spring Fling.
The stricter policy immediately put first-time violators of alcohol regulations on level-one disciplinary probation (pro-one), instead of first issuing them a warning, as was the case in the previous policy. This change was intended to deter students from drinking dangerously, but some students raised concerns that it would actually be harmful to safety.
In particular, the policy had the potential to be dangerous by deterring students from calling Tufts Emergency Medical Services (TEMS) for needed medical assistance because of the fear of facing disciplinary action.
More significantly, however, many students, including members of the Tufts Community Union Senate, questioned whether the policy change addressed the issue of alcohol abuse at its core, rightly pointing out that real change in students' behavior would only take place if there was a shift in fundamental attitudes toward dangerous drinking. This prompted an expansion in the scope of the discussion in forums such as Senate and the Alcohol Task Force to look at not just the alcohol policy, but the broader issue of the drinking culture on campus and how best to make it healthier and safer.
Born out of these discussions involving both administrators and students was a revised alcohol policy announced in May that includes a "forgiveness option." First-time offenders of alcohol regulations will still be placed on pro-one but have the chance of being dropped down to a warning by agreeing to meet with the director of alcohol and health education to undergo counseling.
We believe that including this option in the policy is an important harm-reduction measure but also hits the nail on the head by providing students struggling with substance abuse with the help that they need. It is also fairer than last year's policy because it introduces categories to distinguish between students who drink and possess alcohol and those who have gone beyond that to engage in dangerous and irresponsible drinking. While some had called on the university to implement an alcohol amnesty program, the Daily feels that such a policy would shield students from the negative consequences of their behavior in an unhealthy manner.
We applaud administrators for being open-minded and flexible, working closely with interested students to devise an improved policy that better fulfills the purpose of keeping students safe yet accountable for their behavior.
Beyond that, we commend the administration for tackling the issue of alcohol abuse on campus instead of sweeping it under the carpet, because the discussion that has emerged has been constructive in bringing a real and pertinent problem to the forefront of campus discourse.
From that has come a gradual recognition by both student leaders and administrators that any successful strategy to combat dangerous drinking must include both punitive and preventative components. There may be a new and improved alcohol policy, but the work is not over. Instead, we need now as a community to turn our attention to the more intangible but possibly more significant challenge of changing the drinking culture on campus and to encourage healthier and more responsible attitudes toward alcohol consumption.
While administrators have a role to play in this, and, indeed, University President Lawrence Bacow has taken the lead by personally meeting with students who have been "TEMSed," we need to take ownership of the safety of our community and our friends. Any cultural change has to start from the bottom-up, maybe from the simplest step of stopping a friend this Friday night when he or she has had too much to drink while pre-gaming for Fall Ball.
