A panel of student leaders and administrators met last night to discuss the alcohol policy in an open forum for the first time since the University Alcohol and Drug Policy was first defined.
The current policy came into being after Penn alumnus Michael Tobin died following a night of drinking at his former fraternity house in the spring of 1999. A task force was then created to develop an alcohol policy, which has since remained largely unchanged.
Director of the Office of Student Conduct Michele Goldfarb moderated the discussion, addressing a crowd of about 90 in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall. One of the reasons for organizing the panel, she explained, was that current undergraduates did not take part in the formation of the policy that governs them.
"Our hope tonight is to hear your input... and bring your ideas to life," Goldfarb said, later adding that this event was "the first of its kind."
Panelists in the event -- which was held as part of Integrity Week -- included members of the InterFraternity Council, Panhellenic Council and University Honor Council.
Alcohol Policy Initiatives Director Stephanie Ives also participated as the "steward of the alcohol policy," having worked with Penn since 1999.
Discussion was lively and at times blunt.
"I think if we all followed the policy, it would work very well," Co-Chairman of the University Honor Council Dan Landsburg said.
However, a number of audience members cited unregistered parties on Spruce and Walnut streets that serve alcoholic beverages on weekend nights.
Some raised the complaint that Penn's alcohol policy falls unduly harshly on Greek organizations, a point which Ives contested.
"I'll tell you I spend a good part of my work tracking down those other unregistered organizations," Ives said, but admitted that there is a less formal accountability structure for non-Greek student groups.
A few students made lighthearted quips about the alcohol policy.
One audience member suggested discouraging instead of prohibiting high-risk underage drinking, because, "Then I wouldn't feel so much like I was in East Germany anymore."
Other issues discussed included whether the police should be more directly involved in administering policy, whether student organizations should be held responsible for the high-risk drinking behavior of party guests and whether the University should provide more incentives for good behavior by student groups.
In the end, some suggestions were made, but little was resolved.
Goldfarb said the discussion aimed to share policy information with undergraduates and generate ideas for improvement.
"The next step is to review and assimilate the kinds of remarks that were made here," she said, and identify which, if any, are workable.
College senior Steve Graf was less positive about the results of the discussion.
"I think important issues were brought up, but no common ground was found," Graf said. He called the problem of binge drinking "more deeply rooted" socially and culturally than the University was prepared to address.
Panel member and Panhel President Elizabeth Kimmelman said the discussion was helpful in raising awareness of alcohol policy issues.
"I don't know know how broad those changes will be, but yes, change will come out of it," the College senior said.
