Town Hall talks alcohol
Joe Lanane
Issue date: 5/3/06 Section: News
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He stressed the possibilities of limiting kegs and eliminating bar closing times are both mere examples of suggestions made by CUPP to city and university officials.
"Just because CUPP likes these ideas does not mean they are going to be implemented, that's not how it works," Barker said. "We come up with the recommendations that we think may work and then we present them to the different agencies … and it's up to them what they want to do."
In fact, Allen said she does not anticipate any of these propositions will have any action taken until CUPP readjourns in the fall at the earliest.
"These things will not be implemented over the summer because we could not do that to our students," Allen said. "We don't want them to come back with backlash in the fall asking, 'how could you do that when we're not even here?'"
In the past, prior recommendations such as increasing public transportation have had positive implications - a main reason why the CUPP proposals are not being taken lightly despite criticism at all levels.
"Ever since we got more bus transportation, our criminal damage or vandalism has dropped tremendously," Barker said, speculating that property harassment has dropped as much as 50 percent. "It's been very beneficial."
Recent headlines have also sparked the city's interest in following through on potential regulations. Last Saturday, Macomb police confiscated 11 kegs from a home on the corner of Orchard and Charles streets.
"We cannot have 11 kegs at one house party," Allen said. "(The police report) said there was 150 people in attendance; Dr. Goldfarb and I tried to do the math and it came out to 20 some beers a person. That in itself is alarming."
Still, despite evidence of binge drinking among Western Illinois University students, many community members have gone on the side of students as saying keg restrictions will not limit the amount of alcohol consumed.
"I don't think the size the container the alcohol is sold in is addressing the responsible use," said Dennis DeVolder, associate computer science professor and long-time Macomb citizen.
"I am not in favor of banning or further restricting keg sales because it doesn't address the core problem and I think it's imposing unnecessary restrictions on people who use alcohol responsibly."
To personally respond to the recommendations made by CUPP, complete a response survey available at www.macombcupp.org.
"Just because CUPP likes these ideas does not mean they are going to be implemented, that's not how it works," Barker said. "We come up with the recommendations that we think may work and then we present them to the different agencies … and it's up to them what they want to do."
In fact, Allen said she does not anticipate any of these propositions will have any action taken until CUPP readjourns in the fall at the earliest.
"These things will not be implemented over the summer because we could not do that to our students," Allen said. "We don't want them to come back with backlash in the fall asking, 'how could you do that when we're not even here?'"
In the past, prior recommendations such as increasing public transportation have had positive implications - a main reason why the CUPP proposals are not being taken lightly despite criticism at all levels.
"Ever since we got more bus transportation, our criminal damage or vandalism has dropped tremendously," Barker said, speculating that property harassment has dropped as much as 50 percent. "It's been very beneficial."
Recent headlines have also sparked the city's interest in following through on potential regulations. Last Saturday, Macomb police confiscated 11 kegs from a home on the corner of Orchard and Charles streets.
"We cannot have 11 kegs at one house party," Allen said. "(The police report) said there was 150 people in attendance; Dr. Goldfarb and I tried to do the math and it came out to 20 some beers a person. That in itself is alarming."
Still, despite evidence of binge drinking among Western Illinois University students, many community members have gone on the side of students as saying keg restrictions will not limit the amount of alcohol consumed.
"I don't think the size the container the alcohol is sold in is addressing the responsible use," said Dennis DeVolder, associate computer science professor and long-time Macomb citizen.
"I am not in favor of banning or further restricting keg sales because it doesn't address the core problem and I think it's imposing unnecessary restrictions on people who use alcohol responsibly."
To personally respond to the recommendations made by CUPP, complete a response survey available at www.macombcupp.org.
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