Alcohol policy up for board of trustee's approval

The Shared Governance groups have voted in support of a new alcohol resolution.

The groups that make up the SG and that voted on the issue are the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Dean's Council, Chair's Council, Graduate Student Council and the Student Government Association.

Mike McDaniel, a professor of communications disorders who organizes the Shared Governance, said the resolution has been on the table for a while.

"It was originally for drugs and alcohol, but after it went through Shared Governance, they decided it should be separate," he said.

The original proposal that was presented had drugs and alcohol on the same proposal, meaning if you couldn't have drugs, then you couldn't have alcohol.

However, since drugs are not legal anytime, anywhere and alcohol is legal for people of legal age, members felt it should be separated.

McDaniel said the resolution on drugs passed through quickly.

The alcohol resolution states that the alcohol policy is meant "to maintain an educational working environment free from the influence of alcohol."

The resolution also states that "The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of alcoholic beverages on any property owned or maintained by Arkansas State University or as a part of university activity are strictly prohibited."

The alcohol resolution has been approved by constituents and has been recently passed to Chancellor Robert Potts.

Potts told The Herald Wednesday evening that, because the SGOC had made their decision, it was easy for him to make his.

"I have already sent it over for inclusion in the next (board of trustees) meeting," Potts said.

The next board of trustees meeting will be Dec. 11 at ASU-Mountain Home.

According to the resolution, the areas where alcohol is prohibited will not change.

Those areas include residence halls, educational facilities or recreational facilities.

In the resolution, certain areas that are exempt from the alcohol policy include university owned private homes, or faculty housing, because they do not fall into any of the three categories of areas where alcohol is prohibited.

The resolution gives the ASU chancellor the authority to decide when, where or why alcohol should be allowed on the ASU campus.

Under the existing policy, Potts said he did not have that authority but they were not aware of that until recently, after he had authorized alcohol at certain banquets.

He said in the original policy, it had barred anyone from being able to make that decision.

"We are just trying to be consistent with the board policy," Potts said. "We are trying to be responsible."

Student Government Association President Ryan Beaird said the second policy was written to be very vague about when or where alcohol could be present as to not restrict where Potts could approve alcohol.

McDaniel explained this further.

"It will allow there to still be controlled consumption of alcohol at certain facilities," McDaniel said.

Beaird and McDaniel don't think areas such as fraternity houses or Tailgate City, given that individuals are of legal drinking age, will be affected if the resolution passes.

"Fraternity houses are controlled and maintained privately," Beaird said. "If you're acting mature and that of an adult in Tailgate City or in the fraternity houses, then there will be no red flags."

McDaniel agreed.

"It is my opinion that you will not notice any difference once the proposal goes in and what we have now," he said.