On Tuesday we sat down with Dr. Daniel and discussed its specifics, addressed some of his concerns, and gained some insight into the next steps in this process. I will share some of those details and also invite anyone who is interested to submit their input on where to go from here: I will make sure this entire thread is printed and that Dr. Daniel has a chance to see every idea given.
First of all, although it would be premature to say that this is definitely going to happen, I am very optimistic at this point. The administration is very cognizant of the amount of student opinion that went into this recommendation and the extent to which some students want this to happen. That said, they are also aware that a vocal minority of students are opposed to this and nobody wants to disenfranchise this group either. What we can do is work to find a middle ground: perhaps something less liberal than UT Austin, which has a full bar open from 5pm to midnight, but also not so restrictive as to completely prevent alcohol sales all together.
The big step from here is consulting the other stakeholders in our University and seeing how they feel. In some cases we already know the answer: Staff Council, for example, unanimously passed a resolution in favor of beer and wine sales. Other important entities to consult will include the UT System, the City of Richardson, and of course Chartwells, which will be responsible for actually making this happen. Barring any serious objections, though, I do believe Dr. Daniel will proceed in carrying this forward.
Some of the logistical questions, which I hope you will join us in trying to answer, are things like:
- How do we best enforce the 3-drink limit? Are there other limits that should be in place as far as who can be served? Should academic or disciplinary status be a factor?
- What hours and days should be The Pub serve alcohol? Should service not begin until after the last class of the day starts, or should be it be earlier in the day so people who are not on campus in the evening can still enjoy it?
- How can we control the flow of alcohol out of The Pub and ensure that nobody is taking their drinks to-go? Should alcohol be restricted to certain areas of The Pub? Should we be more restrictive of Pub exits in general?
- What is the best way to ensure that minors do not get their hands on a drink? Should we suggest wristbands? An honor system? Undercover police? Random checks?
Again, we welcome all feedback and will work to ensure that everything is considered. Please feel free to post your comments and view the attached report below.
