2010-11 issue23

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the review washburn university

The Topeka RoadRunners wrapped up their regular season with a victory over the Amarillo Bulls A6

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volume 137, Issue 23 • wednesday, March 30, 2011

Washburn’s alcohol policy comes with loopholes Matthew Kelly WASHBURN REVIEW

Chartwells has hosted events that have included alcohol such as weddings, corporate events and alumni events. Scoular added that Chartwells and the university would not approve the use of alcohol at an event in which alcohol is the main focus, and that they limit their approval to events that merely use alcohol as an “enhancement of the event.” “If alcohol is the sole focus of the event, then we strongly discourage using Washburn for the event,” said Scoular. Susie Hoffmann, the director of the Washburn Alumni Association, agrees that approval from the university depends on the amount of alcohol intended to be served. Hoffmann has coordinated numerous events on behalf of the association, and is well aware of the process involved in gaining approval to serve alcohol. “They’ll look at whether it’s a cash bar or whether it’s hosted, whether we’re providing complimentary alcohol based on how much alcohol you plan to serve and how many people are attending the party,” said Hoffman. “You can’t order three kegs of beer when 100 people are going to show up. That’s just not a good idea. That’s too much beer for 100 people.” Hoffmann said the application for approval requires that the applicant specify: The name of the event, the date and time of the event, the expected attendance, contact information from the host, the name of the organization providing the alcohol, the type of alcohol to be served, and the approximate quantity of alcohol to be served. The applicant must also specify whether the event is to include a cash bar, the cost is to include alcohol, or the alcohol is to be provided without charge. Hoffmann also clarified that student organizations as well as other

The answer isn’t always crystal clear. One fact is certain: Washburn University has never regularly allowed the use of alcohol on campus since it was founded in 1865. However, there have been events allowed to include alcohol on a case-by-case basis. The Kansas Alcoholic Beverage Control division requires that events including alcohol on campus be catered by a licensed organization. At Washburn, Chartwells Catering fills that role. “Chartwells is the provider that serves alcohol on campus. Everything has to be done through them because they have the license to serve through the state Alcohol Beverage Control,” said Kathy Reser, director for the Memorial Union. Reser added that catering through a licensed organization such as Chartwells is the only legal way to serve alcohol on campus, and that there are no other legal options in terms of serving alcohol at approved events. In order to include alcohol at an event on campus, a student or alumni organization must submit a request for alcohol at least 20 days prior to the event. This process allows Chartwells the time necessary to acquire approval and permission from both President Jerry Farley, and the Alcohol Beverage Control Division. “Dining services will generate an alcohol request form to be signed by the group making the request, the office of the University President, the Campus police, Dining Services and we in turn send a request to the Kansas Alcohol Beverage Control,” said Bruce Scoular, catering director of Chartwells. “Chartwells holds license to provide alcohol service on the Washburn campus.”

Washburn organizations have gone through the same process as the alumni association in gaining approval from the university to serve alcohol on campus. “Everybody fills out the exact same form. They go through the same channels and ultimately that form goes to the president’s office for approval or disapproval of the university president. There shouldn’t be any discrepancy,” said Hoffmann. Every event on campus that is to include alcohol must also be submitted through Chartwells, with the exception of tailgate parties. As stated in the Facilities Use section of the Washburn University Policies Regulations and Procedures Manual, alcohol may be permitted at tailgating activities, but is not allowed to be carried into any of the athletic venues such as Yager Stadium. It is also not permitted to sell alcohol at tailgate parties without permission from the university. There must also be non-alcoholic beverages and food present in order for alcohol to be allowed. The Washburn alcohol policy has the support of many of the employees and faculty at Washburn. However, some of the students disagree with the policy, and would like to see it changed. These students feel that allowing alcohol on campus would

Photo illustration by Mike Goehring

help the university to become more of a social environment, and would give students incentive to stay in Topeka for their weekend activities. Washburn student, Dave Clark is particularly passionate about the issue of alcohol not being regularly permitted at Washburn. “I feel like Washburn is such a nontraditional campus in the first place, that there’s not a lot of opportunity for social interaction and activity, especially on the weekends, because everybody goes home or they’re just not around,” said Clark. “Also, there’s not a whole lot to do in Topeka, so it just doesn’t

make sense to me why a college campus would be so anti-drinking when it would be better to have policies in place that allow you to drink and allow you to regulate it and make sure that it’s done in a safe way.” Clark also disagreed with exceptions made by the university with regards to alumni events, and argued that, although this can help the university to raise funding through alumni donations, this reflects poorly on the degree to which the university values it’s students. “I can understand from wanting to be able to have good relations with the alumni they raise money for the school and everything, but they should care a little more for the students as well, not just the alumni. It should be dry all the time, or wet all the time,” said Clark.

Matthew Kelly is a junior mass media major. Reach him at matthew.kelly@ washburn.edu

Christian Hallman WASHBURN REVIEW

Graphic by Richard Kelly, Washburn Review

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ternational student services, also said that it was rare for international students to receive scholarships initially. “A vast majority of our international students do not receive scholarships initially. Students who have been a part of the program for several semesters are more likely to obtain scholarships,” said Staerkel. According to Staerkel, the scholarship availability among competing universities is nearly the same. She said that the disparity between numbers of international students among these competing schools is based on the courses available to the international student. “Schools such as Emporia State University, Fort Hays University and Pittsburg State University do have higher numbers as far as international students are concerned,” said Starkel. “However, this is not due to the amount of scholarships given. The disparity lies in the fact that these universities offer more academic programs.

Washburn’s broadcast team is using their experience towards getting jobs after college

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a completely new culture and the universities gain students from different cultures that can broaden the learning Washburn University is home experience of native students. Some might assume that these to nearly 200 international students. When it comes to paying for school, students receive scholarships to attend there is no difference between them school overseas. However, Xuejing Ran, mass meand the rest of the dia senior, knows student popula“ from experience tion. It is a choice you that this is not the An internacase. tional student can make to come to “I have atbe classified as a America and study. tended Washburn foreign student We do not expect for four semesters that has obtained now,” said Ran. either an F1 or J1 funding from the “In those four sevisa. These stuAmerican university. mesters I have dents are often part never received of exchange pro- Xuejing Ran scholarships or grams with specifSenior, mass media major funding for my edic universities in China. Washburn ” ucation. All of my expenses are paid students and the students from the Chinese universities by my family. It is a choice you make essentially swap schools for semesters to come to America and study. We do at a time, benefiting both the students not expect funding from the American university.” and the universities alike. Heidi Staerkel, coordinator of inThe students gain perspective on

Kenny Ralph owns Keyoka Galleria and Treasures in downtown Topeka

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International students hold equal tuition responsibilities

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