Students, faculty, staff and local residents will have a chance today to discuss proposed changes to Ohio University's alcohol policy in a Day of Dialogue.
The meeting, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Walter Hall Rotunda, will include brief presentations on high-risk drinking and small group discussions, allowing participants to discuss the proposed changes and share ideas with the larger group, according to an OU Communications and Marketing press release.
Two groups, the Coalition Advocating Responsible Drinking Decisions and a task force charged by Dean of Students Terry Hogan, recommended ways to strengthen OU's efforts to reduce high-risk drinking and proposed changes to its current alcohol policy, according to an e-mail message from the Division of Student Affairs.
One recommendation is the integration of an alcohol audit into the disciplinary process, which would assist hearing officers in placing students in programs based on the level of alcohol abuse, according to the proposal, titled Reducing Negative Consequences of High Risk Drinking: Recommendations for Change.
Another proposed change is parental notification for any underage drinking offense taken to University Judiciaries, according to the document.
The proposal also recommends increasing on-campus late-night activities, expanding OU's Off-Campus Living Office and suspending students who violate probation.
After viewing the proposal Jan. 18, OU Student Senate passed a resolution of disapproval regarding the proposed changes Jan. 25 and condemned the absence of student input, according to a Jan. 26 Post article.
OU President Roderick McDavis apologized to the senate for not including student input in the proposal before senate recommended eliminating the parental notification policy and another recommendation that would require students to pay for their sanction programs, according to a Feb. 9 Post article.
Since the proposal was introduced, Student Senate has received feedback from students mainly wanting to hear more about the proposal, said Senate President Brian Footer. He added that he hopes students will benefit from learning more about the recommendations.
I'm very excited about the opportunity to hear community and student concerns about the drinking environment
he said.
The event is open to the public, but reservations are required. More than 125 people have made reservations so far, said Natalie Pariano, graduate assistant to the dean of students. Although reservations were to have been made by yesterday, any available seating will be utilized, she said. People interested in attending should call 593-1800 this morning.
-Bethany Furkin 17
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Bethany Furkin
'Day of Dialogue' leaves drinking issue open to discussion
