Alcohol safety a shared goal, responsibility

To the Penn community:

There are many challenges that confront us in this new academic year. As we began New Student Orientation and moved through the first days of classes, many of you actively participated in Hurricane relief efforts, and you continue to do so. These kinds of activities, many led by students, showcase the care and compassion of the Penn community.

At the same time, however, we learned of cases of dangerous alcohol use at unregistered parties both on and off campus. They resulted in a number of students, especially freshmen, being transported to HUP for alcohol-related injury.

Last year, administrators and students worked long and hard to revise and strengthen the University's Alcohol Policy. We undertook a number of additional initiatives designed to reduce the risks of injury from alcohol use. For example, this year the Drug and Alcohol Resource Team has begun a new program in which student leaders will learn how to intervene if a friend has a problem with alcohol or drug abuse. Also, Team Sober has worked diligently to ensure that risk-reduction strategies are employed during parties and major campus events that include alcohol. We believe that we all share a common concern for the health and safety of Penn students.

We need to all recognize the seriousness of the problem and join together as active, unwavering, partners to ensure that Penn students -- your colleagues and friends -- stay safe.

Penn student leaders join your administrative colleagues to send a strong message to fellow students:

n Stop sponsoring parties, on or off campus, that create a high risk environment for alcohol abuse.

n Provide wise advice and counsel to friends and peers if you see them abusing alcohol.

n Follow University policy, in both letter and spirit, to keep yourself and your friends from serious injury or harm.

n Remember, and remind others, of Penn's medical amnesty policy and get your friends medical care when they need it.

If you need advice or support for these efforts, you can call on any of us and we would be happy to work with you in creating the kind of dynamic, but safe, environment we all want to see at Penn. Everyone of us matters, and we need to make sure everyone of us knows that.

Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum Vice Provost for University Life

Rachel Fersh

Undergraduate Assembly Chair

Phil Gommels

Student Activities Council Chair

Pierre Gooding

Senior Class President

Hayley Gross

Panhellenic Council President

Spencer Scharff

InterFraternity Council President

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