The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate has broken its silence on the university's new alcohol policy.
The Senate last night passed a resolution calling for revisions to the rules instituted this semester, after a heated discussion over what the resolution should say and how to word it.
The Senate voted 22 to zero, with three abstentions, to pass "A Resolution in Support of a Healthy Alcohol Strategy for Tufts." Administration and Policy Committee Chair Bruce Ratain, a junior, authored the resolution.
The motion put forth a plan under which students written up for an alcohol offense would have the opportunity to complete an alcohol and drug program with Director of Health Education Ian Wong. Failure to complete this program would result in level-one disciplinary probation, or pro-one. A second offense would entail pro-one and a meeting with Judicial Affairs Officer Veronica Carter.
Under university policy adopted this school year, Tufts students are immediately put on pro-one after their first alcohol violation. Some have protested that this stringency would dissuade students from requesting medical attention for an overly intoxicated student, although recent data reported in the Daily suggests that calls to student emergency services this year are on par with the norm.
In its resolution, the Senate "advocates for a fully supported social norms marketing campaign" aimed at increasing awareness of the extent of alcohol use and abuse on campus and dispelling misconceptions about drinking culture.
The resolution also calls for increased alcohol education programs and improved training for resident assistants and orientation leaders.
During the debate over the resolution, some senators objected to the wording, demanding more clarification and proposing additions. At one point, Senator Xavier Malina, a senior, moved to strike over a quarter of the text from the final version of the resolution.
But these motions were denied by majority votes.
Malina, sophomore Joel Greenberg and sophomore Tomas Garcia ultimately
abstained from the final vote.
TCU President Brandon Rattiner, a senior, said during the meeting that he will present the final resolution to the policy subcommittee of the Alcohol Task Force at its scheduled meeting today. See tomorrow's issue of the Daily for further coverage of the resolution.
