Colby College now selling cheap drinks

[hoosier]

February 13, 2005



Students may drink at meals

By CHRIS CHURCHILL
Staff Writer

WATERVILLE -- On some Friday nights, students at Colby College can sit down to dinner and savor two beverages found in few college dining halls: beer and wine.

The program began last fall and was initiated by the Student Government Association. It's intended to teach students to drink in moderation while showing an alternative to the binge drinking common on college campuses.

The program began tentatively. On three Friday nights during the fall semester, alcohol was available in Dana Dining Hall to students 21 and over. Students paid $1 per alcoholic drink and were limited to two.

Not surprisingly, the program was popular with students -- at least those of drinking age. But the program was also popular with college administrators, who have decided to expand it to most Friday nights during the spring semester.

"I think people have appreciated it because it's a good way to show that alcohol can be handled in a good and responsible manner," said Janice Kassman, the school's Dean of Students. "We've had only good comments."

Colby officials believe the program is unique in Maine and say they've received inquiries from other liberal arts schools looking to replicate it. They say they've had no complaints from parents.

In a way, the program bucks a trend. It comes as many school are eliminating all on-campus drinking in an effort to reduce the estimated 1,400 alcohol-related deaths that occur each year on college campuses.

But Colby officials say they hope their program will help change the culture around alcohol.

"The purpose is education," said Varun Avashthi, the colleges director of dining services. "The whole point is that the students recognize that you don't have to binge drink or abstain. There is middle ground."

Colby attempts to make the experience informative. An expert on wine and beer sometimes lectures as the students drink.

At the first session, the owner of the Allagash brewery in Portland came to explain how beer is made.

"The students like it," Avashthi said. "They enjoy every aspect of it."

Avashthi said he had no reservations at the start of the program, mostly because he also runs Colby's on-campus tavern and says he's never seen students misbehave there.

But Kassman admitted having misgivings at the program's beginning, if only because she feared that people would perceive Colby as encouraging students -- especially underage students -- to drink.

"I didn't want people to think we had lost our minds," Kassman said.

Two students initiated the project: Catherine Welch, president of student government, and Adelin Cai, vice president. Both have experience in other nations, and both were puzzled by the attitude toward alcohol on American college campuses.

Cai, who is from Singapore, said students there tend not to think of heavy drinking as a rite of passage, and said the dining- hall drinking experience provides a nice change of pace, giving students a different view of drinking, and sets an example of civilized behavior.

Maine beers have proven particularly popular with students. Cai, however, is hoping to diversify the selection.

"I put in a request for beers from Singapore and Asia," she said.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by hoosier
"I think people have appreciated it because it's a good way to show that alcohol can be handled in a good and responsible manner," said Janice Kassman, the school's Dean of Students. "We've had only good comments."

To say nothing of the fact that $1.00 is pretty cheap.

[MikeBFiji]

I like this idea a lot. We are restarting a group called GAMMA here at Ball State and we hope to preach moderation to incoming greeks. If it has success we will expand the program to all incoming students. Maybe one day moderation will be the focus, not strict abstinence.

[Lil' Hannah]

What does this have to do with Greek Life? Colby abolished Greek Life in the 80's.

[hoosier]

Originally posted by Lil' Hannah
What does this have to do with Greek Life? Colby abolished Greek Life in the 80's.

This is how one campus is handling alcohol. Maybe it will inspire some other campus, IFC, or chapter to try something similar. If we don't control our alcohol. our Greek Life may be abolished.

[aephi alum]

That's an interesting idea. It shows the students that
there are reasons to drink other than to get drunk.

There was a dining hall at my alma mater where students 21+ could buy beer and wine at dinnertime. I don't think I ever saw anyone get beer or wine there. That was probably because the beer and wine, like everything else in the dining halls, was way overpriced, and the wine was plonk.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by Lil' Hannah
What does this have to do with Greek Life? Colby abolished Greek Life in the 80's.

I think it's a worthwhile post, and an interesting experiment. If it works it certainly could spread to schools with Greek organizations.

It makes more sense here than in Chit Chat -- although Risk Management might have been a good choice, too, since we talk so much about alcohol in there.

[Ali*Z]

*sniff*
I am so proud that my sorority was founded at a college that serves drinks in the student dining center.
*sniff* *tears*

[Tom Earp]

Only Americans Drink Stupid!

Learning to drink in Euope is civilized!

Think about it. Live and learn. Wine is fine. Guugleing or googizingling is not!!!

[cash78mere]

i think this is a fantastic idea! i wonder how it will evolve over the next few months and years, and if many other campuses will try it.