Alcohol Subject Of Vote

A bill advocating the relaxation of Harvard's alcohol policy by allowing Houses to co-sponsor parties will be voted on by the Undergraduate Council on Sunday, after the Student Affairs Committee considers the issue in a Monday meeting.

If adopted by the Administration, the proposal would lift restrictions preventing a house that is hosting a party where alcohol is served from inviting residents of other houses or advertising outside of that house.

The bill does not currently include any suggestion of how many houses could co-host a party, but, according to Bradford E. Miller '97, the bill's sponsor and a Crimson editor, the bill is not intended to pave the way for campus-wide alcohol parties.

"The administration is afraid of the possibility of campus-wide parties," Miller said. "That happened a few years ago, and it was chaos, so right now if a house has a party with alcohol it can only advertise within the house. I'm looking for a com- promise."

Miller did not speculate on the possible limitsof such a compromise, however.

"I don't advocate full campus parties, but Idon't want to commit to a specific number ofhouses who could co-host parties right now," hesaid.

If the proposal passes at the full councilmeeting on Sunday, it will be brought before thenext joint meeting of the Committee on CollegeLife, where it will be discussed by students,house masters and administrators.

This idea was first raised by current councilVice-President Justin C. Label '97 and formerCabot House Committee Chair Dana W. Lansky '95,who brought it before the most recent jointcommittee meeting last spring. The committeesdecided to table the issue until this year.

Label said that this small change could beimportant in improving Harvard's social scene.

"The problem is that, because parties are onlyadvertised within one house, people figure nobodyis going to come, so they don't either." Labelsaid. "It's kind of a self-perpetuating problem.Being able to advertise in other houses wouldprobably help convince people to come."

Last fall, Label and Miller spoke with Dean ofthe College L. Fred Jewett '57 and Assistant DeanSarah Flatley, both of whom encouraged them topursue the idea, voicing their support for a morelenient policy.

The biggest hurdle will be winning the approvalof the house masters, Miller said.

"We've heard rumblings that they're open to acompromise," he said. "Chances seem very good thatthe policy will open up at least a little bit."

Label said he was extremely optimistic that themasters would back some level of reform.

"I have spoken to three masters," he said, "andthey were exceedingly favorable to the notion ofbeing able to advertise parties in other houses.

Miller did not speculate on the possible limitsof such a compromise, however.

"I don't advocate full campus parties, but Idon't want to commit to a specific number ofhouses who could co-host parties right now," hesaid.

If the proposal passes at the full councilmeeting on Sunday, it will be brought before thenext joint meeting of the Committee on CollegeLife, where it will be discussed by students,house masters and administrators.

This idea was first raised by current councilVice-President Justin C. Label '97 and formerCabot House Committee Chair Dana W. Lansky '95,who brought it before the most recent jointcommittee meeting last spring. The committeesdecided to table the issue until this year.

Label said that this small change could beimportant in improving Harvard's social scene.

"The problem is that, because parties are onlyadvertised within one house, people figure nobodyis going to come, so they don't either." Labelsaid. "It's kind of a self-perpetuating problem.Being able to advertise in other houses wouldprobably help convince people to come."

Last fall, Label and Miller spoke with Dean ofthe College L. Fred Jewett '57 and Assistant DeanSarah Flatley, both of whom encouraged them topursue the idea, voicing their support for a morelenient policy.

The biggest hurdle will be winning the approvalof the house masters, Miller said.

"We've heard rumblings that they're open to acompromise," he said. "Chances seem very good thatthe policy will open up at least a little bit."

Label said he was extremely optimistic that themasters would back some level of reform.

"I have spoken to three masters," he said, "andthey were exceedingly favorable to the notion ofbeing able to advertise parties in other houses.