No alcohol, except...
New policy will allow alcohol use during certain fund-raising events
Issue 10 - 02.09.06

While Budweiser was the corporate sponsor for the Jan. 7 game against Independence Community College and a banner was hung in recognition, beer and other alcohol will not be available at sports events. The administration has stressed that alcohol will never be provided in a place where students are present. Photo by Marcia Russell

BY JARED MCGUIRE
Managing Editor

In the Jan. 10 and Jan. 25 editions of The Arkansas City Traveler, in two separate letters to the editor, phrases such as “…very much against and do not like the idea…” and “…deeply disappointed over this new policy at Cowley College…” appear.

The policy in question involves the alcohol exemption policy, adopted by the Cowley College Board of Trustees on Dec. 19. This policy has caused a stir in the community, but has generated little interest from students.

Certain buildings are now exempt from the campus ban of alcohol under this policy. However, this is not for the benefit of students wanting to throw weekend kegger parties. These are, of course, still prohibited.

Support groups for the college, including the Endowment Association and the Tiger Booster Club, are eligible under this policy. Cowley College President Dr. Pat McAtee stressed that the activities would be controlled situations, not big alcohol parties.

“Some people are really misinformed about the policy,” McAtee said. “I think they’re distorting it to mean ‘Oh, we’re going to have alcohol everywhere. They’re going to turn this into a pool hall.’ That’s not the case. It’s going to very limited, very special occasions.”

The intention of the policy is to designate places that would allow alumni or guests to the campus to participate in special occasions where wine or beer would be served.
According to Dean of Student Life Sue Saia, miscommunication about the policy has caused people to think that Cowley will be serving alcohol at sporting events and at performing arts events during intermission. “It’s been blown far out of proportion,” said Saia. “There was never any intention to sell beer at the ball games or beer where students would ever be.”

Under Kansas State law, no alcohol may be served in buildings that are used for instructional activities. For example, Galle-Johnson and the Brown Center are not exempt buildings in the policy because they are used primarily for instruction and education.

The buildings that fall under the policy are the McAtee Dining Center and adjacent grounds, W.S. Scott Auditorium and adjacent grounds, the Tony Buffo Plaza (located south of the cafeteria), the Calder Bonfy Amphitheater (located between the Brown Center and Galle-Johnson), the Recreation Building and adjacent grounds and the Jungle. McAtee said that several buildings were listed so that the policy would not have to be changed if another place was deemed suitable. “We just put all these potential places in there,” McAtee said.

Questions arise about the appropriateness of some of these locations. In the W.S. Scott Auditorium, there is a single classroom. Also, the Jungle is adjacent to Storbeck Dorm, potentially putting alcohol less than 40 feet from student housing.

“The thing to remember is that the administration reserves the right to select what types of things go in, so I don’t ever foresee that they would have anything involving alcohol when students are here on campus,” Saia said.

There are other issues concerning the Jungle, including the testing center and the Underground, which is used for tutoring purposes. While he was not positive, McAtee said that, after further review, they might discover that these fund-raising events will only be held in the dining center, because no instruction whatsoever takes place there.

Cowley will not be open to have wedding receptions or any other outside group parties. Saia stressed that no students would be involved, as most Cowley students are not of legal drinking age. “As an administrator I can’t ever see us approving anything while students are on campus,” said Saia.

McAtee does not agree with those that say Cowley is putting forth the wrong face by adopting this policy. “If we were encouraging heavy drinking or there was going to be a case where people were having a great volume of alcohol, I’d say they’ve got a good point. In the case where we’re going to have an occasion where we could have a glass of wine… then I would say it’s not,” he said.

Finally, McAtee does not think the college is teaching irresponsible behavior or setting a bad example. “I think in this day and age, the example you have to set to young people is that there has to be responsible use of alcohol…The example that I would hope we could still set is it needs to be done in a controlled, responsible way,” he said.