Alcohol ban lifted as task force reports

Students said the group's work made up for the initial lack of consultation College Green was mobbed by angry students last month when almost 1,000 undergraduates raised their voices against the lack of consultation surrounding the administration's decision to ban alcohol at undergraduate registered parties. And after strict alcohol policies put a damper on Spring Fling, a bitterness against the administration still lingers within the Penn student body. But the student leaders on the provost-appointed task force -- many of whom spoke in the most vehement of tones at the March 30 rally -- said that to create lasting policy changes they had to stop complaining about past administrative actions and work with Provost Robert Barchi and the other committee members. Over the past five weeks the committee has met at least once a week to hammer out alcohol policy issues, culminating in a 10-page report -- released yesterday -- that outlines a list of recommendations to combat alcohol abuse at Penn. Undergraduate Assembly Treasurer Michael Bassik said that when the committee -- composed of 15 students and seven faculty members -- first sat down with Barchi, they recognized that he wanted to hear their ideas and move forward to attack the issues collectively. "Once we got in there, we [realized] that this was our chance to work with the administration," the College sophomore said, adding that "the provost made the atmosphere very welcoming." And Wharton senior and committee member Jeffrey Snyder, formerly the InterFraternity Council's vice president for rush, said the working group realized it had to focus on future discussion instead of the lack of consultation in the past. "The administrative ban was a means of getting the attention of the student body," he explained. Snyder added that members knew they would accomplish nothing "if they let that taint our discussion." Committee members also said they remain optimistic that a pattern of greater consultation between students and administrators will arise out of the new recommendations. Tangible Change Committee Chairperson Samara Barend, a College senior, said that although "students still feel slighted" over the initial lack of consultation, "the success of the task force should set a precedent that students are responsible." Barend noted that the committee recommendation of the development of an Alcohol Rapid Response Team -- an advisory group to the president and provost on alcohol related issues -- will facilitate student-administration consultation in the future. At a press conference yesterday to announce the recommendations, Barchi was effusive in praising the members of his committee. "This has been a remarkable group of people who have been very honest with each other, thoughtful and thorough," Barchi said.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.