The Consultation Process

Provost appoints task force Provost Robert Barchi will begin meeting with a "working group" of both student and faculty leaders tomorrow to discuss the future of the University's alcohol policies. Barchi invited "as broad a cross-section of student life as possible" to participate in the group, including five administrators and professors and 14 student leaders representing organizations such as the Undergraduate Assembly, the InterFraternity and Panhellenic councils and the Drug and Alcohol Resource Team. The group will begin by discussing the temporary ban on alcohol at undergraduate events and eventually formulate more long-term proposals to recommend to University President Judith Rodin. The committee will make its recommendations to Rodin as soon as they come up with them -- "be it one day or one week," Barchi said, emphasizing that it will not necessarily take until the end of the semester, as some media organizations reported over the weekend. Representatives invited to participate in the working group said they were happy that the University is at least willing to talk to students. "I'm pleased that the president and provost are seeking input from a wide variety of students and I hope to have a serious and honest discussion about the issues," said panel member Jeffrey Snyder, a Wharton senior and the IFC's former vice president for rush. IFC President and College junior Mark Metzl complained that students were not consulted before Thursday's move and said that he hopes the new committee will "include the undergraduate perspective in decisions that affect our lives." And UA Chairperson Bill Conway, a Wharton junior, said the committee has both positive and negative features. He explained that while he is looking forward to discussing the situation tomorrow, he is still concerned about the validity of the administration's efforts to reach out to students. "We're upset that a decision was made without consulting [the UA] first," Conway said, adding that Rodin said at a University Council meeting the day before the new policy was announced that officials would consult with the University community before they took any action. Despite bitterness about the process leading up to the decision, both administrators and students are above all looking to the meetings as a chance to find a positive solution. Director of College Houses and Academic Services David Brownlee said that he is "anxious" to begin discussion of alcohol abuse and the tactics necessary to combat the present situation. And 1998-99 men's basketball team tri-captain Jed Ryan, a member of the DART-sponsored "Penn Drinking Project" said he would not enter the meeting with any preconceived notions but simply base his actions on what unfolds tomorrow. "My unique perspective to this committee is that I've had a life-threatening situation with alcohol," said Ryan, who was hospitalized in 1996 with an alcohol-related illness. "As someone who is a visible presence on this campus?Emaybe I can lend some thoughts on what alcohol can do to your life."