AS: Students left out of alcohol policy changes

By Kristen Parrish

One student government official is worried that Associated Students, and therefore students as a whole, are being left out of discussions regarding university alcohol policy.

AS Vice President Jasper Seldin worries that AS is not being included in alcohol policy forums, including a meeting during the summer where community facilitators and resident directors were addressed by officials.

"It shuts out students. We are trying to make changes but it's not in our hands," he said.

"We are expected to act like adults, but yet we're being treated as children."

Still, Assistant Dean for Student Life Matthew Duncan maintains that the meeting held over the summer was only resident staff training.

"Every year, the Office for Student Life does training with the resident staff," said Duncan. "As leaders on campus, we see them as people who can affect change and we want to make sure they have a philosophical understanding of what the university is trying to accomplish."

Since the campus-wide alcohol policy changed in 2004, students are now required to pay fines ranging anywhere from 50 dollars and up, depending on the offense and the number of indiscretions on their record. In some cases, parents are also notified. Further offenses can lead to a student being removed from housing and even expulsion.

Seldin also worries that economics factor in when dealing with punishments.

"It's sad that at a Jesuit school something such as class is becoming a factor when dealing with disciplinary issues," said Seldin. "Different students are affected by their ability to pay. If kids have money, it won't affect them as much."

Duncan maintains that fines are not a class issue, but rather a necessary way to enforce school rules.

"Our purpose in using standardized sanctions is to show what our expectations are and what the consequences are going to be for their behavior," Duncan said. "That is why the sanctions are clearly articulated and students are going to have to make a decision whether that is something that changes the decision they make or not."

While students say they would be upset if they were fined, many feel as though the situation could be worse.

"I wouldn't want to pay the fine, but it could be worse," said freshman Kevin Bayly. "There could be zero tolerance."

Seldin also worries that resident directors are being given too much discretion when it comes to disciplinary matters.

"Resident directors are being told to use discretion when disciplining students for alcohol use," he said. "The guidelines are mandatory minimums and everything else is up to them."

Students also expressed concern that there may be some privacy issues when dealing with students' parents being contacted.

"It is not an invasion of privacy," said Duncan. "Under (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), the university can notify parents for medical situations or for drug and alcohol violations. Parents know students better and we don't know if they have a long history with alcohol or if they are just experimenting -- we don't notify them for the first violation unless it is an extreme situation."

Contact Kristen Parrish at (408) 554-4546 or at knparrish@scu.edu.