Students shed apathy at alcohol policy rally

Though they normally display little active concern for major social issues, students came out in record numbers yesterday. For almost an hour yesterday afternoon, the Penn student body actually shed its apathetic skin. In what appeared to be the largest student rally of the 1990s, approximately 1,000 Penn students gathered on College Green to protest the alcohol policies recently imposed by the University administration. While organizers billed the event as an opportunity to stand up for student rights in the decision-making process, many of those in attendance used yesterday's rally to voice their dissatisfaction with the temporary ban of alcohol at all registered undergraduate parties -- showing that a war in Kosovo may not be what it takes to rile students up. Some held signs carrying the messages "Judy is a Fascist," "Even Commies can drink" and "Cite me, I'm sober." Others, hoping to poke fun at the recent alcohol crack-down, drank from a keg of root beer. And one group of students even sold T-shirts combining the image of University President Judith Rodin and a popular vodka advertisement. The event served as a contrast to the apathy that students have grown accustomed to at Penn. While many colleges and universities across the nation have staged campus-wide protests regarding issues like affirmative action and sweatshop labor, Penn has remained relatively quiet in response to major national and international concerns. But yesterday's event helped cast light on why Penn students seem more willing to fight for their right to party rather than fighting for human rights. College senior Samara Barend, chairperson of the Tangible Change Committee, said that yesterday's rally helps to prove that the Penn student body can be very proactive -- if the circumstances are right. "Penn students just needed to be catalyzed," said Barend, who was one of the speakers at the rally. "They needed an impetus and this is an issue that really hits home. I hope this whole outpouring serves to show Penn students that the strength we really have is in numbers." College junior Miriam Joffe-Block, a member of the Progressive Activist Network, said unlike other divisive issues, almost all students agree on this one. "A lot of times, there is support for a myriad of causes but it's easiest to be active when there's a specific source of what the injustice is," said Joffe-Block, another rally speaker. "So in this case, it was easy to target the administration and this is an issue that affects students personally." At the rally, students agreed that changes in campus policy are more likely to attract the masses than national or world politics. "Those issues don't affect us directly," said Wharton and College sophomore Eddie Bosek. "[The alcohol policy] is a direct violation of our rights. Maybe we should have shown more interest in other issues but this one really got us out." Wharton senior Vivek Bantwal said the protest was successful in serving its purpose -- to help students question the administration's authority. "I think the rally has been very effective and the big reason is because it shifted the focus from alcohol to Rodin's completely ineffective handling of the situation," Bantwal said. "It's the question of a school unilaterally imposing [its] will on a free-thinking student body." College senior Barry Trachtenberg said students have a responsibility to speak up for an issue that directly impacts their lives and the lives of future Penn undergraduates. "It's not the alcohol that's bringing us together," Trachtenberg said. "It's the martial law that's been enacted on campus. Even though [students like myself] are seniors, we don't think it's fair to leave this legacy." But not all people in attendance yesterday were satisfied with the rally's end result. College sophomore Erin Moss said that while she enjoyed seeing her fellow classmates unite, it was unfortunate that only an alcohol-related topic prompted students to take action. "It's nice to see us come together but it's sad that it has to come down to this [issue]," she said. Whether or not Penn students will continue to rally in the future remains to be seen, but yesterday -- if nothing else -- showed the potential that lies within Penn's student body. "I'm really happy to see that there is such determination and motivation," Joffe-Block said. "I hope that? people will come out for broader issues as well."

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