Alcohol safety

When the bulk of Penn's alcohol policy was crafted, the idea was that it would apply to all campus organizations. Ostensibly it did, but not enough people got the memo. Last week the Student Activities Council took a positive step to correct this problem.

Now, SAC says, it will be penalizing all affiliated groups who do not comply with the University's justifiable policy of registered parties on campus.

The board that is in charge of most student groups is setting a good example that all others should take note of.

Alcohol safety ought to be a priority for everyone at Penn. Students must be responsible for their own safety, and leaders of student groups must do what they can to promote safe alcohol use.

There is certainly no problem with groups hosting parties on campus. And the University's alcohol policy, which was wisely revised this spring, provides appropriate guidelines for how to accomplish that goal safely.

Requiring training to detect alcohol abuse, which the University estimates more than 500 students will complete this year is just one of the beneficial policies that groups must follow.

An increasing number of registered parties in the past few years signals that students are taking more initiative to do things the right way. It also shows that not only is the policy workable, but it is being communicated more effectively to those in charge.

By clearly outlining the rules -- something that should have been done years ago -- groups like SAC and others are doing everyone a service.

Too often fraternities and sororities are singled out as purveyors of parties with alcohol, and as a result are commonly thought of as the only target of University regulations. In reality, every group that hosts parties of this variety should be held to the same standard as the Greeks.

When it comes to alcohol, safety is everyone's business.

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