2008 Woodie Awards
SEPTF Looms Large on Campus
Group Debates Legal and Safety Issues of Social Events, Possible Alternatives
Jonny Dover
Issue date: 2/15/02 Section: News
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Social Events Policy Task Force has already caused a myriad of changes in campus social life—despite the fact that "there is nothing in writing at this point," as Lydia McDonald, Co-Chair of the committee said last Tuesday. The Task Force held a public forum on Wednesday, and shared with Hendrix students some of the information they had learned by bringing a fire marshal to the campus and by consulting a prosecuting attorney. Both meetings may present drastic changes to Hendrix's social scene.
"President Cloyd asked Wayne Clark to put a task force together to make social events on campus more safe for the students," said Laura Munroe, Co-Chair of the Social Events Task Force. "We brought in Marcus Vallon, who is an assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Faulkner County, to find out laws concerning social events. We found out that any time the school knows that alcohol will be served, the school should take 'prudent action' and have student hosts and professional staff checking IDs."
She went on to say that at Hendrix-sponsored events, the students hosting the parties or serving beverages to anyone under 21 can be held liable for any injuries sustained by their guests as a result. "They [anyone suing as a result of a party] would go after the private students first," said McDonald, "but then they would sue Hendrix, which is also liable if it's a Hendrix-sponsored event."
"So, what does 'Hendrix-sponsored' mean?" asked a student at the forum. "We don't know yet. Warehouse parties that are off-campus and Martin parties that occur every year we are responsible for," replied McDonald. She went on to say that even private parties on campus that any member of the Hendrix staff or faculty is aware of are considered "Hendrix-sponsored."
Students have suggested that the Task Force was put together because of several unfortunate incidents this year. McDonald enumerated a few such incidents, though she said that they were the sole reason that the Task Force was formed. "The police have been called to campus three times, a policeman was assaulted by one of our students, students have been charged with DUI, minor in possession, and there have been fights between Hendrix students and UCA students, all in connection with the parties this year. There is a lot of puke in the bathrooms on Monday mornings. A building was vandalized on a weekend as a result of a party. A student was assaulted by another student as a result of a party."
"President Cloyd asked Wayne Clark to put a task force together to make social events on campus more safe for the students," said Laura Munroe, Co-Chair of the Social Events Task Force. "We brought in Marcus Vallon, who is an assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Faulkner County, to find out laws concerning social events. We found out that any time the school knows that alcohol will be served, the school should take 'prudent action' and have student hosts and professional staff checking IDs."
She went on to say that at Hendrix-sponsored events, the students hosting the parties or serving beverages to anyone under 21 can be held liable for any injuries sustained by their guests as a result. "They [anyone suing as a result of a party] would go after the private students first," said McDonald, "but then they would sue Hendrix, which is also liable if it's a Hendrix-sponsored event."
"So, what does 'Hendrix-sponsored' mean?" asked a student at the forum. "We don't know yet. Warehouse parties that are off-campus and Martin parties that occur every year we are responsible for," replied McDonald. She went on to say that even private parties on campus that any member of the Hendrix staff or faculty is aware of are considered "Hendrix-sponsored."
Students have suggested that the Task Force was put together because of several unfortunate incidents this year. McDonald enumerated a few such incidents, though she said that they were the sole reason that the Task Force was formed. "The police have been called to campus three times, a policeman was assaulted by one of our students, students have been charged with DUI, minor in possession, and there have been fights between Hendrix students and UCA students, all in connection with the parties this year. There is a lot of puke in the bathrooms on Monday mornings. A building was vandalized on a weekend as a result of a party. A student was assaulted by another student as a result of a party."
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