Angela Johnston stresses the need for alcohol education
Stephen Lumetta
News Editor
On Monday, the College’s Alcohol Task Force (ATF) met for the first time to start the process of revising the school’s alcohol policy.
The ATF is composed of 12 students. Inter-Greek Council (IGC) will be represented by Diego Arellano ’17 and Annelise Bay ’16.
Residence Life student staff will be represented by Sara Abrams ’17 and Rob MacLellan ’16.
Giorgio Tramonto ’18 will represent Campus Council.
Sophie Nathanson ’17 will represent the Student Government Association (SGA).
Shelby Bretschger ’16 will represent the Wooster Activities Crew (WAC).
Cassie Huye ’17 will represent k(no)w.
Katie Stock ’17 will represent the Wooster Volunteer Network (WVN).
There are three at-large representatives: Kristen Estabrook ’16, Eli Millette ’17 and Avery Parker ’18.
Coordinator of Student Rights and Responsibilities Jess Ettell is serving as the administrative liaison to the ATF. Administrative Director of the Division of Student Life Angela Johnston, who is not on the ATF but had the idea for it, led the meeting.
The meeting started off with introductions and an explanation of a private wiki that Johnston created for the ATF.
A draft of the proposed medical assistance amnesty, which Campus Council has been working on, was also briefly shown.
The proposal could, as it’s currently written, grant amnesty in some circumstances to students seeking medical assistance or a student helping another student get medical assistance. Amnesty could also be granted to students who are the victims of certain crimes or to students who report a serious crime or policy violation to the proper authorities.
Amnesty could be granted by the Dean of Students office for minor violations such as underage drinking, open containers, irresponsible alcohol consumption or noise or tobacco violations.
However, the proposal would have no effect on any civil or criminal charges.
Johnston suggested that the ATF bring in a panel with representatives from the Wooster police, the district attorney’s office, the College’s legal counsel, and S.T.E.P.S. (Substance Abuse Treatment, Education and Prevention Services), a local substance abuse agency.
The members of ATF agreed that a panel was a good idea, and it is being tentatively planned for the group’s meeting next week.
Ettell provided the ATF with statistics about the number of documented alcohol violations this academic year versus last year. The data included the number of violations per class year and the number of times a student had to be taken to the emergency room or the wellness center.
The conversation then pivoted toward the role of resident assistants (RAs) with regard to walk-throughs and enforcing the alcohol policy.
Diego Arellano ’17, one of the IGC representatives, expressed concern that Bissman Hall was being disproportionately targeted with walk-throughs by Security and Protective Services (SPS) and RAs. He claimed that house parties were not being examined under the same scrutiny.
Ettell suggested that SPS should do random walk-throughs of house parties and parties in designated dorm party spaces.
Johnston brought up the idea of a new system in which paid students would walk through parties to ensure everyone’s safety.
Both Johnston and Ettell stressed the need for education about alcohol.
“As an institution, I don’t think we’ve done enough” to educate students about alcohol, said Johnston.
Johnston brought up the cost of partying and drinking. This cost includes having on-call custodians that clean up vomit or broken glass bottles.
Finally, Johnston stressed that the College is not interested in having an unenforceable policy. She said the policy should allow for a reasonably safe social environment.
As of press time, the ATF tentatively plans on having subcommittees to address specific issues.