Colorado State University Announces Alcohol Task Force Meeting Schedule; Full Meetings Open to the Public

University officials today announced the meeting schedule for the newly formed Colorado State University Alcohol Task Force being led by Lt. Gov. Jane Norton. The task force will hold its first meeting at 3 p.m. Sept. 30 in the North Ballroom of the Lory Student Center on the main Colorado State campus in Fort Collins. The public is welcome to attend.

The Alcohol Task Force will consist of the full task force and four subcommittees. The full task force is scheduled to meet once per month through the end of the year and twice in January with the goal of finalizing the task force report to present to Colorado State President Larry Edward Penley by Feb. 1, 2005. All full task force meetings are open to the public and time for public comment will be provided at the end of each meeting.

Additional meeting times and locations follow.

– Oct. 28, 3-6 p.m., Room 228, Lory Student Center.

– Nov. 18, 3-6 p.m., West Ballroom, Lory Student Center.

– Dec. 9, 3-6 p.m., Room 228, Lory Student Center.

– Jan. 20, 3-6 p.m., Cherokee Park Room, Lory Student Center.

– Jan. 27, 3-6 p.m., North Ballroom, Lory Student Center.

The Alcohol Task Force was appointed by Colorado State President Larry Penley to examine a wide range of issues including binge drinking and underage drinking among students, as well as the fraternity and sorority systems, and the overall culture of the institution as it relates to alcohol and substance abuse issues.

Linda Kuk, vice president for student affairs, and Cheryl Olson, a local community leader, are serving as operational co-chairs of the task force. Additional task force membership includes state and community leaders, students, faculty, staff and substance and alcohol abuse experts.

The complete Alcohol Task Force charge follows this release.

The four subcommittees will serve as working committees to address the specific charges and make appropriate recommendations regarding their discovery and analysis to the full task force for review and possible inclusion as final recommendations. The subcommittees will meet as required to complete their work.

The four subcommittees follow.

– The subcommittee on Colorado State University alcohol related policies, protocols and enforcement practices. This subcommittee will review current Colorado State policies, protocols, enforcement procedures and practices related to alcohol use and abuse on campus and in the greater Fort Collins community. This information will be compared to national best practices and the subcommittee will make appropriate recommendations for improvements as well as create new initiatives.

– The subcommittee on student behavior and educational and intervention programs. This subcommittee will examine the continuum of college-age student behavior related to alcohol use and abuse, and research regarding educational initiatives, prevention and intervention efforts. The subcommittee will compare the existing educational programs and intervention efforts provided by Colorado State with the identified national best practices and ultimately make appropriate recommendations for changes and improvements that will reduce the incidents of alcohol abuse and the negative consequences of student behavior.

– The subcommittee on alcohol related legislation, distribution and advertising. This subcommittee will examine existing state and federal legislation surrounding alcohol provisions and consumption, specific ordinances, distribution laws and practices used within the greater Fort Collins community, as well as advertising practices and standards used on campus and within the greater Fort Collins community that directly impact the consumption and abuse of alcohol among college-age students and impact the culture around such use. The subcommittee will make appropriate recommendations regarding proposed changes that might reduce the incidents of alcohol abuse and the negative consequences of student alcohol abuse behavior.

– The subcommittee on the use of alcohol at Hughes Stadium. This subcommittee will review polices, protocols and practices associated with alcohol use and abuse at Hughes Stadium. This review will include use within the stadium as well as within the parking areas and surrounding areas of the stadium before and after scheduled events. It will explore practices and policies of other athletic venues regarding alcohol use. The subcommittee will make appropriate recommendations regarding the future distribution, sales and use of alcoholic beverages, as well as alternatives in policing and enforcement that will foster a positive, safe and enjoyable environment for participating in collegiate sporting activities.

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Colorado State University

Alcohol Task Force Charge

The Colorado State University Alcohol Task Force is charged with reviewing current Colorado State University policies, protocols and enforcement procedures related to alcohol use and abuse on the Colorado State University campus and in the greater Fort Collins community; examining the continuum of college student behavior related to alcohol use and abuse and how Colorado State University’s education, prevention and intervention programs and practices compare with best practices nationally; and, examining existing state and federal legislation surrounding alcohol provisions and consumption, specific ordinances, distribution laws and practices used within the Fort Collins community, reviewing advertising practices and standards that are used on campus and within the greater Fort Collins community that directly impact the consumption and abuse of alcohol among college age students; and outlining the impact of the existing societal cultures around such use and abuse. In addition, the Task Force should specifically review policies, protocols and practices associated with alcohol use and abuse at Hughes Stadium.

The Task Force is asked to make specific recommendations to the President of Colorado State University regarding improvements the Colorado State University campus and the surrounding Fort Collins community can make regarding these issues, with the specific purpose of reducing the incidents of alcohol abuse and existing negative consequences this abuse may have on student behavior, life safety, and the quality of life for students and the greater community. We trust that these findings and recommendations also may provide useful insights and proposed actions that can be adopted  by other college campuses and their respective communities regarding the problems associated with alcohol use and abuse that plagues all colleges across the county.

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