In response to the recent alcohol-related death of University of Pennsylvania alumnus Michael Tobin, the University has banned alcohol indefinitely from undergraduate parties, despite protests from student leaders discontent with the seeming lack of student input on the measure.
After Tobin's fatal fall on March 21 down outdoors stairs at his former fraternity house, Phi Gamma Delta, University President Judith Rodin and Provost Robert Barchi announced in an open letter the indefinite suspension of alcohol at all registered undergraduate parties, including popular events such as Spring Fling.
In the letter to the campus, the administration said it will "consider, with counsel from a number of students, faculty and professionals around the University, the future of alcohol at Penn."
A working group composed of students, Interfraternity Council representatives, faculty and administrators will meet for the first time today to study excessive drinking at Penn and to make recommendations for the future, University spokesman Ken Wildes said.
"There have been a series of rather serious health-related events - students ending up in the hospital from drinking - and this [administrative action] should come as no surprise to anyone," he said.
Students, however, plan to protest this afternoon at 3 p.m. on the College Green, the center of campus. The Undergraduate Assembly, Penn's student government, will lead the event objecting to students' lack of representation in the sudden decision.
"The rally is not condemning the policy to ban alcohol, but rather is to let the administration know that they cannot create a policy that affects all undergrads without consulting student leaders first," said sophomore Michael Bassik, Undergraduate Assembly Vice Chairperson.
Despite assurances from the President and Provost to discuss new policy before implementation, the administration only agreed to meet with student leaders today, several days after the procedures had been enacted, Bassik said.
"This sends a message to all undergrads that our interests and opinions come second to those of the administration," he added.
He aimed most of his criticism at the administration, not the policy.
The University's student protest comes in the wake of similar demonstrations made by Dartmouth students criticizing the Dartmouth Trustees' revolutionary initiative earlier this year to overhaul residential and social life at the College.
Interfraternity Council Executive Vice President Andrew Exum, a junior and brother at Sigma Nu fraternity, said "The IFC found it distressing that the University made a broad mandate [without student input]."
Exum also found fault with the policy's potential to create "an unsafe environment by pushing parties off-campus, which are not subject to any regulation or monitoring and will encourage irresponsible drinking."
The IFC "worries about the safety of students," he added.
The prohibition of alcohol will be strictly enforced by campus and Philadelphia city police.
"The University gave Penn police a virtual carte blanche and the authority to enforce the policy with force and no concern for the interests and well-being of students," Bassik added.
Wildes said that city and state law enforcement may be more visible on campus because of investigations into the incident, but campus police will not be operating under "extraordinary" license.
Exum also criticized the policy's narrow focus on undergraduates, including those of legal age to consume alcohol. The policy will not affect graduate students at the large university.
"This is not a long-term solution, and it will be ineffective because students were not consulted," Exum added.
He believes potential long-term consequences of the ban include declines in matriculation and alumni giving.
