Grad student groups pledge support for U. alcohol policy

The statement, issued jointly by the leadership of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, the Black Graduate and Professional Student Assembly and the Graduate Student Activities Council, pledges that all GAPSA, BGAPSA and GSAC on-campus social activities will be held in enclosed areas and that hard liquor and beer from kegs will not be served at any time. "We hope to motivate other students and organizations, graduate and undergraduate alike, to similarly uphold this important new initiative," reads the statement, which is currently being distributed to other graduate student organizations. Provost Robert Barchi, who led the committee which developed the new policy, responded enthusiastically to the show of support. "The graduate and professional students deserve our praise and our thanks for taking the lead on this important issue," Barchi said. "I commend them for their sense of community and responsibility." During last spring's debate over the controversial changes in the alcohol policy following a string of alcohol-related incidents, graduate groups came under criticism for their campus social events, some of which had been known to serve alcohol in areas frequented by undergraduates. The Wharton Graduate Association was singled out for its keg parties held in the Lehman Quad, the area in front of Vance Hall near the main entrance to the Quadrangle. But WGA President and second-year Wharton MBA student Assaf Tarnopolsky said his committee does not see the need for any major changes in its social events. "I think that the graduate community of Wharton acts in a very responsible manner vis-^-vis drinking," Tarnopolsky said. Tarnopolsky added that while no plans exist to change WGA alcohol policies in light of the new statement, distribution of alcohol at WGA events has been and will continue to be regulated with identification checks. Authored by GAPSA Vice Chairperson/Treasurer and second-year Social Work student Kendra Nicholson, the statement was not intended as a blanket show of support on behalf of the entire graduate school community -- which, with approximately 13,000 students, comprises a larger percentage of the University population than do undergraduates. "We didn't try to make the impression that other graduate groups were included, but we're hoping that other grad groups will support it," said Nicholson, who is also a Graduate Associate for a largely freshman hall in Hill College House. Undergraduate response to the statement has been cautiously optimistic. "I find the statement encouraging and long overdue," said InterFraternity Council Executive Vice President and College senior Andrew Exum. "We can only hope that the graduate student governing bodies continue to be vigilant in the efforts of the University to curb both alcohol abuse and underage drinking," added Exum, who is also a Daily Pennsylvanian columnist.