FSU alcohol ban creates gray areas for student groups
By Ryan Dailey, Democrat staff writer
November 15, 2017
Can the Florida State University Student Bar Association, most of whose members are over 21, book a venue that serves liquor for its premier social event next spring?
Can pre-dentistry students on a trip to the Republic of Panama, where they are encouraged to “experience local culture,” drink at restaurant outings?
Those are just two of the many scenarios FSU administrators and student organizations must grapple with under the “new normal” created by President John Thrasher’s ban on alcohol at all university-sponsored student events.
The ban, announced by Thrasher following the death of 20-year-old fraternity pledge Andrew Coffey at an off-campus party, applies to more than 700 recognized student organizations, or RSO’s, on campus.
This ban, much like the crackdown on Greek life is indefinite.
During a Q&A session Monday for RSO representatives, associate director of the Student Union Robyn Brock outlined the ban’s parameters – and occasionally ran into unique exceptions.
Just minutes into fielding the first questions of the evening, a number of hypothetical as well as very real scenarios were presented, making a one-size-fits-all answer seem unattainable.
A representative from FSU’s Student Bar Association made up of graduate students from the College of Law, raised concerns about the group’s premier event, the Barrister’s Ball. Held every spring at a third-party venue like a restaurant, alcohol is served.
Most of the FSU SBA’s members are above the legal drinking age. The organization’s representative worried the ban might jeopardize being able to book a venue.
In order to know if they are in compliance, Brock said RSO leaders need to ask themselves two questions: “Who are you with, and who’s paying for it?”
Brock said an official RSO event would be one a “reasonable outsider” would identify as such. If the university or RSO parent organization is paying for the event, alcohol is a no-go.
Another Student Activities staffer presented the idea that RSOs, if they wish to host events at a restaurant or other venue with a bar, specify on their invitations that members are not allowed to purchase alcohol.
If a student simply wears an organization’s t-shirt at a bar, there isn’t a violation. Brock said the university can’t restrict the behavior of any individual.
“If you are 21, you are welcome to purchase your own alcohol,” she said.
One RSO representative said the problem is a culture of binge drinking and suggested organizations pre-determine a number of drink tickets for their events that would allow regulated drinking.
Brock and the Student Activities staff said they would take the idea to discuss with university higher-ups.
“Alcohol should not be the crux of the event or program,” said Dorsey Spencer, associate director of student activities. “With or without alcohol, it should be equally as successful.”