Task force to discuss U. alcohol and drug policy

A task force is meeting today for the second time to discuss and evaluate the University's drug and alcohol policy and its enforcement. Chaired by Police Commissioner John Kuprevich and University Life administrator Barbara Cassel, the committee is attempting to find solutions to substance abuse problems. Cassel said she hopes to "identify exisitng resources and programs so we can make recommendations to how they need to be modified or refined." Kuprevich said he believes the University has a good policy, but it needs to be enforced consistently to be useful. "All the right words are there," he said. "We need to start figuring out how we get policy and reality closer together. We should be pro-active, not reactive." "We want to hear first-hand from people who are responsible for enforcing it [the alcohol policy] to see what we can do to help as administrators," added Cassel. Representatives from Alcohol and Drug Education, Residential Living and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs will participate on the task force, which will be made up of administrators, faculty, and students. Students from the InterFraternity Council and Drug and Alcohol Resource Team are also members. The committee met two weeks ago to dicuss the need for such a task force. "We're not even sure what we're even looking at yet," said OFSA director Tricia Phaup. "It's just to touch base and get people to discuss the issues." Task force members say their discussion is not the result of any particular incident. Kuprevich said the meeting is the beginning of an ongoing process working toward getting people to accept the seriousness of drug and alcohol abuse and encouraging responsibility in behavior. He said the concern is the impact alcohol has on student's health and well-being. The group has already committed to meet in an ongoing fashion throughout the academic year.

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