The working group charged with examining and revising the university’s altered alcohol policy recently launched a blog in an effort to increase student involvement in the discussion.

The Alcohol Policy Working Group created the blog to help compile a list of recommended changes to the alcohol policy, which the group hopes to present to Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson by the end of the semester. The group launched the blog on Jan. 21, but it was not announced to the student body until Tuesday, Jan. 4.

Matt Stoller (COL ’08) co-chairs the group, which includes members from GUSA, Student Affairs, InterHall and GERMS.

“The blog allows us to maintain a connection with the student body. We want students to see the ideas and the process,” Stoller said.

As of early this morning, no comments had been left on the blog.
The working group, made up of eight students and eight administrators, has been meeting since October when it was created in response to student complaints that they did not have ample opportunity to provide input on the alcohol policy.

“The group was formed in response to widespread student concern,” said Assistant Vice President for Student Health and working group Co-Chair James Welsh. “Students want a voice, and the group can provide this feedback to Olson.”

In August, the university revised its alcohol policy to include a one-keg limit, party registration and host training requirements for social events. In addition, administrators modified the punitive system for offenses.

Welsh said he anticipates that this list will be completed by the end of the semester.

“We are committed to open and honest discourse,” Welsh said. “We are realists, and we understand that there will be some conflict and some common ground. We just need to get these issues on the table.”

To achieve satisfactory results, compromise between students and school officials is paramount, Stoller said.

While no suggestions have been voted on by the working group yet, some ideas discussed at the most recent meeting, according to the meeting’s minutes, include increasing the keg limit to two kegs in Village A and in townhouses, a Georgetown-sponsored bartender course and alcoholic events sponsored by “What’s After Dark,” a late-night program run by the Center for Student Programs.

Town hall meetings are help sporadically at the discretion of the work group, and are open to all students. The next town hall meeting will be held on Feb. 13 and will focus on the party hosting, training and registration policies, according to the group’s blog.

The blog also has information regarding the new alcohol policies and offers students access to the main discussion points of the group’s meetings.

Welsh said the group hopes that students will express their concerns on the blog and help instigate policy change.

“Our mission is to set up a structure where students have a real voice in the system,” Welsh said.