The Committee on Student and Campus Community (CSCC) completed its biannual review of the College's alcohol policy. Though this review was a state-mandated standard procedure, the decision to form a new commission on the prevention on alcohol abuse was not.
So far, the idea is still just that, an idea. Professor Mark Woodford, who has agreed to lead the commission, is also its only confirmed member. However, James Norfleet, vice president for Student Life, and Beth Paul, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, have completed the final draft of a charge outlining the commission's goals, though it is still subject to further review.
One of the charges tentatively assigned to the commission is to give the alcohol policy a more thorough review than the CSCC. The only changes made in the latest review were updates to statutory references, bringing the College's alcohol policy more in line with changes to various laws. The only changes made in the latest review were updates to statutory references. In the past six months, Ewing brought its laws governing under-age drinking in line with state laws. All the references in the College's alcohol policy were updated to reflect this change. Deputy Attorney General Barbara Kleva made these changes for the College.
"There really are no changes to the policy in terms of substance," Norfleet said.
According to the charge, "the Commission should work closely with (CSCC)" to give the alcohol policy a closer examination.
Norfleet expects that the review "will be quite extensive."
In addition to Woodford, the commission will be made up of two other faculty members, three staff members, five students, a dean, a cabinet member, an alumnus and possibly a parent, according to Norfleet, who is currently finalizing the commission members.
"We'll be having this in line within the next couple of weeks," he said.
The overarching goal given to the commission in the charge is "to recommend specific goals, objectives and actions for addressing issues of underage and high-risk drinking on campus."
The commission will be working with other members of the campus community in order to achieve this goal. It is also charged with determining the best methods of alcohol and drug abuse prevention for College students.
The charge calls for the commission to create a report detailing all its findings and recommendations by the first of May 2007.
