The Manitoban - University of Manitoba Student Newspaper - Feb 7, 2000

By Bryce Meister News Reporter

Unruly students caught with open liquor on campus could soon face fines of up to $75 if a University of Manitoba committee's recommendations are met with approval.

The Manitoban last week obtained minutes of a November 9, 2000 meeting of an "Orientation/Alcohol Review Committee" that was reportedly established to examine alcohol service and consumption on campus, particularly during UMSU's annual September orientation.

In addition to granting Security Services personnel the authority to issue fines, the committee wants to set restrictions as to when and where licensed events can occur on campus. The committee calls for an equivalent non-alcoholic event for every licensed event and recommends barring UMSU and other groups from erecting concert stages on the quadrangle. It also suggests forbidding fraternaties and sororities from recruiting on campus on the grounds they are "a common source of initiation and alcohol-related problems."

The minutes indicate recommendations were made by Campus Security director Jim Raftis, Housing and Student Life director Garth Wannan, Special Functions Manager Natalie Denesovych and the Physical Plant's Ed Rzeszutek. No student representatives were present at the meeting, although a separate letter sent by Wannan lists several students, as well as UMSU Programmer Chris Melnychuk, as committee members.

Wannan said this week that the committee's proposals are "just an idea," but added the recommendations have received some support and could eventually make their way to administration for final approval.

Wannan also said students have had input into drafting the committee's proposals, although some student representatives say they are worried the committee is making decisions without student input. "It's very unfortunate that student input wasn't part of the process from the very beginning," said Kevin Toyne, the senior stick at St. John's College. "Hopefully, before they go much further with this they [will] do some broad-based consultation with students."

"Students aren't dummies," Toyne added. "If you ask them questions they will give reasonable answers - unless there is something to hide, and I really hope that's not the case."

According to the documents obtained by the Toban, the committee was planning to meet again on Monday of this week.