EDITORIAL____________________________
Alcohol policy a welcome change

THE RECENT POLICY enacted by CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed to ban alcohol sales at sporting events is a step in the right direction.

According to the press release announcing the new policy, the CSU system "believes that students under the influence of alcohol cannot perform at their full potential. The policy recognizes that abuse of alcohol in any form detracts from the mission of the campus and does not make a positive contribution to the learning environment or to the public image of the institution.”

Banning alcohol on CSU campuses is a long overdue move. Fewer than half of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) sold alcohol at sporting events previously, and that number has been further reduced by the Chancellor’s action.

“The CSU believes that service of alcoholic beverages at intercollegiate athletic events in university owned or operated facilities is contrary to its systemwide alcohol policy and to its purpose of promoting a safe and healthy learning environment for all members of the university community,” CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed said in the press release announcing the policy.

Alcohol is not required for fans to have a good time at sports events and sometimes leads to problems that would be otherwise avoided. University officials have asserted on several occasions that many security and public safety incidents at university events are related to alcohol consumption.

“Most of our significant security issues, if not all of them, are alcohol related,” Fresno State Athletic Director Thomas Boeh said. “When you take that out of the mix, then it greatly enhances the safety and security of not only the student athletes on the field, but also the consumers in the stands.”

IN ADDITION TO security concerns, alcohol has been in part responsible for sullying the reputation of CSU Fresno.

Last year’s infamous picture in USA Today of Fresno State students drinking at a football game caused outcry from administration officials who claimed the image was not an accurate reflection of the student body.

While this may or may not be correct, the fact remains that alcohol had become a predominant part of the culture of sporting events and in that sense would have been impossible to combat except through extreme measures.

While it is unfortunate that Chancellor Reed chose to enact this policy through executive order over the winter holiday rather than through more democratic means involving public hearings including both students and fans, it seems likely that this course of action would have resulted in a stalemate of meeetings and procedural delays. That being said, the policy is by no means perfect.

The fact that it may not apply to activities in the Save Mart Center is outrageous. It is critical that the university ban alcohol sales in this venue to avoid a dangerous double standard.

While the Chancellor’s new policy will indeed hurt the university in terms of lost revenue, it is worth the lost money to establish a sports culture that is not dependant on alcohol to draw fans or let those in attendance enjoy the game.

Fresno State is, after all, a place of learning and higher education. It is critical that a culture of serious learning and scholarship is established.

This policy, despite its flaws, is definitely a change for the better.

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