Budget approved; campus alcohol and drug use discussed
Megan Feil
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: News
The main topics discussed at the Broad of Trustees meeting on Feb. 23 included students' use of drugs and alcohol as well as the college's budget.
Aaron Fetrow, dean of students, led a presentation on Guilford's alcohol and drug issues in response to a request from the board. A student and staff panel offered unscripted information about their experiences with the party scene.
"The trustees were supportive and thankful to get a realistic view of drinking based on our experiences," said senior Brianna Robinson. "We shared personal stories that didn't necessarily put ourselves in the best light."
Dry colleges like Earlham and Emory and Henry were mentioned as a point of comparison in numbers of reported alcohol and drug violations.
"I don't think the trustees want to make campus dry," said senior Chris Lampkin. "You can get drunk for the first time in your dorm room and have your friends look out for you. If they push drinking off campus, you can go to a bar and have the cops look out for you."
Consensus from the panel said first-years generally accounted for more alcohol violations than upperclassmen.
"Personally I don't drink, but I think for people who do, part of the college process is to learn how to drink," said first-year Rebecca Sullivan. "Freshman year might be an out of control year but, by the end, you should learn how to control it."
Robinson introduced the idea of finding upperclassmen to act as mentors to first-years who might need guidance. Chair Joseph Bryan Jr. agreed that it is a good idea.
"Because they live in all freshman dorms they don't have as much interaction with older students," Robinson said. "We could have juniors and seniors who wouldn't tell them what to do and not to do but show them how they party. They'll listen more to peers if they're not RAs or hall directors."
According to the Cooperative Institutional Research Program 2007 reports, about 55 percent of Guilford students admitted drinking beer in the past year and 62 percent for wine and liquor.
Aaron Fetrow, dean of students, led a presentation on Guilford's alcohol and drug issues in response to a request from the board. A student and staff panel offered unscripted information about their experiences with the party scene.
"The trustees were supportive and thankful to get a realistic view of drinking based on our experiences," said senior Brianna Robinson. "We shared personal stories that didn't necessarily put ourselves in the best light."
Dry colleges like Earlham and Emory and Henry were mentioned as a point of comparison in numbers of reported alcohol and drug violations.
"I don't think the trustees want to make campus dry," said senior Chris Lampkin. "You can get drunk for the first time in your dorm room and have your friends look out for you. If they push drinking off campus, you can go to a bar and have the cops look out for you."
Consensus from the panel said first-years generally accounted for more alcohol violations than upperclassmen.
"Personally I don't drink, but I think for people who do, part of the college process is to learn how to drink," said first-year Rebecca Sullivan. "Freshman year might be an out of control year but, by the end, you should learn how to control it."
Robinson introduced the idea of finding upperclassmen to act as mentors to first-years who might need guidance. Chair Joseph Bryan Jr. agreed that it is a good idea.
"Because they live in all freshman dorms they don't have as much interaction with older students," Robinson said. "We could have juniors and seniors who wouldn't tell them what to do and not to do but show them how they party. They'll listen more to peers if they're not RAs or hall directors."
According to the Cooperative Institutional Research Program 2007 reports, about 55 percent of Guilford students admitted drinking beer in the past year and 62 percent for wine and liquor.
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