Brewing a new campus event alcohol policy: Dean Gulati leads conversation on policy change

On Thursday, Oct.13, Dean of Students Allison Gulati and Assistant Dean of Students Jane Schubert addressed the SGA at their General Assembly with an intrepid question in mind: how can social life on campus be enhanced?

Although Dean Gulati is only in her first year of Muhlenberg administrating, she is already looking to institute some changes to help increase the opportunities and turnout of social events on campus, relying on the SGA and many other student groups across campus for their input, support, and potential monetary assistance.

Gulati and Schubert’s sights are primarily set on campus events that serve alcohol to those of legal age and/or have alcohol-friendly and exciting, alcohol- free events during the late night hours.

“In November, I would like to get a large social life working group launched so that going into winter break, people know the specific charge of what we are hoping to accomplish,” said Gulati. “We intend for many voices to be part of the process and to work hard to create a more vibrant set of options that are safe, healthy, reflective of life outside the college setting, and build community among students.”

By introducing more opportunities to host events with alcohol on campus, Gulati and Schubert hope to make the experience of drinking and partying safer, as well as improve community relations off-campus.

“Allentown is getting a lot of pressure from neighbors to address off-campus student behavior related to noise and trash. At the same time, Muhlenberg students want to be social with their friends and the place they can do that is in their off campus residences. Currently, it’s creating animosity and frustration, from all angles,” explained Gulati.

Eliminating off-campus party experiences is not a goal of this effort. Instead, the hope is to create higher quality opportunities for socializing on campus and to enhance dialog for increased safety and etiquette in managing off-campus events.

“We can do our part to create more opportunities to socialize with and without alcohol on campus, students have to do their part as well.” Gulati added, “Alcohol abuse is a real issue with college students, and a big part of it is learning how to manage yourself with regard to alcohol consumption and to learn to take responsibility for managing your parties better off campus.”

SGA President Christian Balodis ‘17 agreed, and believes that the new policy will help improve the relationship with the community and neighbors.

“I think it’s safer if we bring that consumption on campus,” said Balodis.

Representative Ashley Landesman ‘17 asked Dean Gulati about the rumors regarding the Red Door, and the possibility of operating it as a bar or restaurant that serves alcohol. Both Gulati and Schubert noted that this would likely be unfeasible, primarily due to the cost of a liquor license.

“Financially speaking, I think it would be very challenging to operate the Red Door like that,” said Gulati. “However, I think it should be a location where groups who want to serve alcohol can do so.”

Off-campus “pregaming,” is also proving to create some tension between students and their neighbors, possibly stemming from the school’s current no-tailgate policy “This is another area we may be able to think about differently in the future,” said Gulati.

Although tailgating reform isn’t necessarily at the top of the list, there are several other social, on-campus opportunities that students can look forward to in the near future.

On Nov. 6, there will be a bonfire on the library lawn, featuring music, food, and a beer/wine garden with a swipe-to-enter system. On the last day of classes, students can expect a silent disco, which will be a non-alcoholic social event open to the entire campus community as well.

Additionally, students who frequently check their email are no stranger to Dean Gulati’s periodic “email blasts,” to remind and inform them of current issues and the upcoming events of the week or month ahead.

Gulati is looking into an event-subscription service for students through either the Muhlenberg phone app or a new blog process.

This will simplify and expedite the updating process, but also continue to provide as much up-to-date, transparent information about campus life as possible. Even though there are plans to develop a format that allows students to access more in depth information at their leisure, some communications will need to continue to go out to all students in the current form. Gulati has a student intern working with her on this project.

While Gulati and Schubert are aiming to provide more opportunities for students to safely and responsibly drink on campus, they’re also striving to increase social life opportunities in general as well. This will include events off-campus in student residences, and in Allentown restaurants and event spaces.

“I expect that through this committee’s work, late night activities without alcohol will also ramp up in a new way,” added Gulati.

While the SGA’s role may rest as an allocator of money to clubs to put on these events, all of the student body should be ready to participate in enhancing the on-campus social experience.

“There’s no silver bullet,” said Gulati. “It’s about bringing the pieces of a puzzle together all at once.”