The Manitoban - University of Manitoba Student Newspaper - Feb 28, 2000

Booze wars - prohibition on campus?
Eight men, no women wooing student voters

By Kevin Toyne

Have you heard the rumours that the administration wants to ban alcohol from campus? Or ticket people for drinking? Most people I know have.

Over the last few weeks, I have talked to hundreds of people opposed to the proposed changes to campus alcohol policy. As well, they are afraid that the admin wants to ban alcohol completely from campus.

What is going on here? Drinking tickets? Maybe. The return of prohibition? Well, not yet - I hope.

The Alcohol Beverage Committee enforces the Campus Alcohol Policy. This committee decided the policy needs change. It set up an Alcohol Review Committee to suggest recommendations.

The Alcohol Review Committee met before Christmas and came up with a long list of recommendations. Sadly, no students were part of that initial meeting.

One recommendation was to ban fraternities and sororities from campus. In the opinion of the Alcohol Review Committee, "Fraternities and sororities are a common source of initiation and alcohol-related problems." It is amazing how long stereotypes survive in a supposedly enlightened institution.

Had this committee done its homework or consulted students, it would realize that fraternities and sororities at the U of M have stricter alcohol policies than the U of M. Brilliant move - let's ban organizations that have stricter alcohol controls than we do, all in the pursuit of stricter alcohol controls.

One wonders why the administration is only focusing on students, as it isn't only students drinking on campus. We have a policy on alcoholism and university staff. It hasn't been amended since its introduction in 1977. One would expect the administration to have a slightly more current policy on alcoholism, given the seriousness of the problem.

Recently, the University of Saskatchewan tried to change its alcohol regulations. As reported by The Sheaf (the U of S student newspaper), these changes have been postponed until this fall. Why? Student opposition. How did the university's administration know students were opposed? It asked.

In mid-January, an associate vice-president presented administration's case at an open forum. A student board is in the works to provide input and to help oversee and coordinate the new regulations.

The U of S sees what the U of M is ignoring - meaningful student input and participation are necessary when it comes to a campus alcohol policy.

At the most recent Alcohol Beverage Committee meeting, I suggested more student input was needed before these changes are implemented. To this end, I have organized the Student Task Force on Responsible Drinking.

The Student Task Force will organize public meetings to hear from students on the proposed changes to campus alcohol policy. All students are invited to participate.

Administration is here to serve our needs, not vice versa. Contrary to seemingly popular belief, students are adults. Students recognize that neither a dry campus nor irresponsible drinking are acceptable options. But if the administration had asked us, it would already know that, wouldn't it?

The administration will be given a chance to present its case and hear from concerned students. As stated in the Alcohol Review Committee report, "The campus, in general, is not sufficiently aware of the policies concerning alcohol use." This is a golden opportunity to raise awareness.

I urge the administration to postpone any changes to the Campus Alcohol Policy until the Student Task Force has prepared and submitted its report.

The Manitoba Liquor Commission can learn from the U of S, too. Following the tragic death of Kris Howard, the recommendations of the Responsible Server Committee have received some media coverage. Unfortunately, the committee was missing student representatives. The MLCC should have a formal mechanism for student input and participation, and I hope the Student Task Force can fill that role.

Nothing motivates bureaucrats and administrators like high-profile tragedy - or high-profile opposition. The University of Saskatchewan has moved in the right direction by soliciting greater student input and facilitating greater student participation in alcohol policy development and implementation. The University of Manitoba and the MLCC must follow suit.

I urge all students at the U of M to participate in the Student Task Force. Student input and participation are necessary to ensure any changes reflect the concerns and needs of students.

If we let the administration impose these changes without our participation, who knows what will be next. I have heard some members of the administration have expressed interest in a dry campus. If we do nothing, alcohol prohibition may no longer be a thing of the past.

Kevin Toyne is Senior Stick of St.John's College and sits on the Alcohol Beverage Committee. He is the chair of the Student Task Force on Responsible Drinking.