With the College's alcohol policy currently on the brink of change, this year's Winter Carnival may be the last big weekend for students to feel free to drink in fraternities without Safety and Security officers partying with them in the basements.
Several of the alcohol policy recommendations made by the College Committee on Alcohol and Other Drugs propose changes to the current alcohol policy, which could alter the face of Winter Carnival and other big party weekends for many years to come.
Coed Fraternity Sorority Council President John Muckle '99 said although the new alcohol policy has yet to be determined, the CFSC hopes to "behave more responsibly now rather than wait until later," and has made several changes to the current self-monitoring system.
Muckle said the current monitoring system will be more strictly enforced. Monitors will be required to conduct more thorough search of CFS houses to minimize underage drinking at parties, Muckle said.
Muckle said he hopes that students will keep the future of the alcohol policy in mind and party safely when they attend fraternity parties this weekend.
"The CCAOD is a very real thing to me and I will behave differently this weekend," Muckle said. "I would hope everyone else will do the same."
Student Assembly President Frode Eilertsen '99 also said he hopes students who attend fraternities will keep the risks of alcohol in mind as they drink this weekend.
"Hopefully there will be more focus on socializing at Greek parties rather than on getting trashed," Eilertsen said.
But Eilertsen added that he doesn't think there will much change to the drinking culture during this year's Winter Carnival despite the pending alcohol policy.
If the CCAOD recommendations go into effect as is, or even with slight modifications, the Winter Carnival social scene is bound to change.
With only three kegs allowed per CFS event, there will be fewer kegs available, and parties will have earlier closing times, possibly around 2 a.m.
Instead of utilizing student monitors hired through the CFSC, Safety and Security officers will be patrolling the fraternity basement in search of underage drinking violations.
Members of the Board of Trustees will be discussing the recommendations of the CCAOD with student leaders as well as school administrators tonight.
Dean of the College Lee Pelton said the alcohol policy, once determined, will likely be implemented Spring term.
