Acorn

The question of whether Drew students have a serious drinking problem is not a new one. It has caused heated debate on campus for years, but very little action has been taken � until now. A new alcohol policy is being proposed by Associate Dean of Educational and Student Affairs, Frank Merckx, and the Drew community faces a serious decision.

The new policy discriminates against not only students under 21, but places new restrictions on what students can do even when they have reached the legal drinking age. The proposed policy changes are unnecessarily strict without offering any justification. If it passes, beer pong tables and funnels will be outlawed, and events like Hoyt Thursdays will officially receive their death sentences.

In the past, Drew treated students as mature and capable adults � a phrase that has been included in Director of Public Safety Tom Evans� first speech to the freshmen during Orientation for years. The new policy disregards this attitude and instead addresses the students the way a group of bored grown-ups treats a herd of unruly children. Underage students are no longer permitted to attend a party where alcohol is being served, as if they might get drunk simply by being in the room. If Public Safety catches them drinking, they will be documented for each offense separately. Even more insulting are the punishments that legal 21-year-olds could receive. If the new policy passes, harmless alcohol containers like boxes of wine become contraband, which constitutes a Level 3 offense and includes a parental notification and $250 fine, among other potential sanctions.

No one is suggesting that Drew should condone underage drinking. It�s against state and federal law, and no one expects the University to turn a blind eye to it. However, the new policy does not simply follow legal guidelines � it goes out of its way to extend them.The problem at Drew is not with underage drinking. The problem lies with a few students who binge drink regularly. While we realize that this behavior deserves to be addressed, punishing all students on campus is not the right way of going about doing so.

Students have to ask: Who is the administration most concerned about? The daring freshmen who venture to the Suites? The quad of 21-year-old women who prefer cheap boxed wine to fancy Bordeaux? Or the repeat binge drinkers, who probably find a way to drink regardless of policy, even if it means resorting to drinking alone in their room? Maybe Drew could focus more on those specific students who need help, rather than phoning home to mom and dad to report on their darling child.

Drew students need to respond. We need to make sure our opinions on this proposed policy are heard. E-mail the people listed on the right. Let them know what you think about the new policy. Also, this Sunday, go to the town hall meeting in UC 107 at 7:30 p.m. and challenge these changes.

We must seize this opportunity to react to an unfair change in University policy. The student body has a unique opportunity to influence this impending overhaul. It is a great disservice to the entire student body for us not to speak our minds.

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