The ad-hoc Alcohol and Drug Policy Committee hosted a town hall meeting last night in Feldberg Lounge in the Hassenfeld Conference Center to gather feedback from students about the University's policy on alcohol and drug use and the social atmosphere on campus. The Alcohol and Drug Policy Committee is comprised of undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and local medical personnel. It was created in order to examine drug and alcohol misuse at the University, according to an e-mail sent from University President Jehuda Reinharz to the student body. The meeting was attended by four non-committee students as well as Associate Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams, Chief of Neurology at Newton-Wellesley Hospital Dr. Avraham Almozlino, undergraduate student representative to Board of Trustees Heddy Ben-Atar '11, Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan, Associate Dean for Research and Prof. Constance Horgan (Heller), Academic Advisor Brian Koslowski, Director and Clinical Supervisor of BEMCo Seth Merker '11, and Prof. Margie Lachman (PSYC).

Student Union President Daniel Acheampong '11 opened the discussion by asking the committee what has been discussed with members and students across campus. Committe Chair Prof. Len Saxe (Heller) responded that a website was set up on the University's website to receive student input ranging from comments to complaints or concerns about safety in regard to substance use.

Horgan explained that small student focus groups had been created so that students could give feedback on University policies and social life. Saxe explained that the purpose of the focus groups was to target specific groups of students, such as members of off-campus Greek life or community advisors, rather than a broad collection of students.

One of the issues presented was student concern for a lack of student events on campus. Attendees at the meeting referenced the night of the Pachanga dance, where incidents throughout the night, regardless of being associated with the event or not, raised concerns about alcohol misuse on campus. Students suggested that more events like Pachanga should be held, rather than having one main night for students to look forward to. In addition, students brought up the possibility of serving alcohol at events in order to reduce incidences of "pre-gaming," drinking before an event such as a concert or party.

"The seniors won't host as many pre-games because they'll be able to just go drink [at these events]," said Rephael Stern '11. "So there won't be as many opportunities for underclassmen to access alcohol."

Ben-Atar changed the direction of the discussion by asking how students think the administration views alcohol usage on campus.

Acheampong said that it was important that Reinharz addressed the issue of alcohol and drug use and that the University has done so by holding events like the town hall meeting.

Saxe asked the attendees if students would be willing to have an ad-hoc group that would primarily represent student opinion and could give feedback to the administration and institutions. Acheampong expressed support, while Stern said that he would be skeptical of a committee's progress.

President of Brandeis Democrats Amber Kornreich '12 said that she attended the meeting because she was "curious about what measures the administration was considering in response to events like Pachanga" and that she wanted to give her own feedback.

Stern repeated that he felt "skeptical" about the "benefits" of the progress of the ad-hoc committee but that he felt his views were heard.