College's TIPS Training Turned Over

Author: Thomas Drescher

A noticeable decline in on-campus registered parties has prompted Community Council (CC) members to draft a proposal that, if passed, will reform the College's current TIPS training program.

The current TIPS training program is a three-hour-long class that is held about once a month. Upon completion of the program, students of legal drinking age are permitted to host registered on-campus parties and serve alcohol.

As part of the rush process, most social houses ask that their pledges go through TIPS training.

Recently, however, the length of the sessions and the infrequency with which they are scheduled has discouraged students from obtaining permission to host parties, said Student Co-Chair of Community Council Erin Sullivan '04.5.

According to Dean of Student Affairs Ann Hanson, information and feedback regarding TIPS training was collected from a number of sources - students involved in CC, student surveys conducted throughout the year and from other members of the College community. Dissatisfaction with the current TIPS program prompted the Community Council to look into the matter.

"Last spring, a [Community Council] subcommittee was formed to address TIPS training," explained Sullivan, "and a proposal revising the current TIPs practice was worked on this summer."

The TIPS reform proposal will make it easier for students to obtain permission to host parties in lounges and other public spaces on campus. A name change is also in the works.

"The revised TIPs training process will be held once a week. The session will be conducted by public safety, and rather than being a three hour-long class, it will last no more than 45 minutes," said Sullivan of the proposed legislation. "The ultimate goal of Community Council with regards to TIPS training is to make the process more accessible, and to enable students to meet the requirements of hosting a party in a more effective fashion," she added.

According to Hanson, "there has been a decrease [in the number] of registered parties on campus," and TIPS training program flaws might not be directly responsible, but are certainly a factor.

A decline in the number of registered parties usually corresponds with an increase in the number of off-campus and unregistered gatherings. As a result, public safety is forced to regulate overcrowded, disruptive parties in dorms and social houses. If the proposal is accepted by the CC, well-informed students will be able to host reasonable parties in public spaces, said Hanson. "We are trying to encourage parties to be registered on campus. The goal of the Community Council is to provide student party hosts with the information they need to register a party."

According to Sullivan, "there has not been significant clamor about parties and TIPS training," but the connection between the program's flaws and the decline in registered parties is such that the Community Council is now considering the major revisions outlined in the TIPs reform proposal.