SGA tackles transport, alcohol

Author: Tristan Hayes

On Sunday, Jan. 15, President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz met with the Student Government Association (SGA) to review with his December meeting with the Board of Trustees, and to answer questions and address concerns members of the SGA presented. At a meeting the following week, the SGA further discussed their conversation with President Liebowitz, as well as their own goals for the rest of J-Term and the spring semester.

Most immediate among these goals is the implementation of a College-sponsored transportation service. SGA President Eli Berman '07.5 and cabinet member Jon Warnow '06.5 presented a bill to the SGA that included provisions for seven separate initiatives, among them a Saturday shuttle to Burlington, a weekend shuttle to Sugarbush and Mad River Glen ski areas and monthly shuttles to Montreal, Boston and New York.

The bill, entitled "Responsible Transportation Solutions: Moving Middlebury into the Future," also included an overhaul of the web-based ride board on Middlebury's Web site, a revision and expansion of the yellow-bike program, the purchase of a biodiesel bus to serve as the Snow Bowl shuttle and a mandate to match with SGA funds the College's contribution to the overhead cost of operating the Snow Bowl shuttle.

At last Sunday's meeting, a member of the SGA senate presented the results of a survey that gauged the student body's transportation needs. The results indicated strongly that the proposed system would be thoroughly utilized.

Students and other members of the community, speaking to The Middlebury Campus, responded positively to the prospect of an affordable way to get to and from Middlebury. "I'm an international student, so it's really hard for me to get around," said Hiba Fakhoury '09. "I think it's great that the SGA is trying to provide transportation for students."

Not all members of the SGA agreed with each of the programs Berman and Warnow's bill proposed, and some suggested that it would be more effective as seven separate bills. In any case, according to Berman, a shuttle to Burlington is hoped to be made available through the Addison County Transit Resources the first Saturday of the spring semester, for the likely fee of $3 each way.

The SGA also addressed the issue of the College's policies regarding alcohol. Dean of Student Affairs Ann Hanson, speaking at the Jan. 15 meeting, cited what the Administration perceived as an increased presence on campus of the Middlebury Police Department (MPD), noting that this was due in part to the MPD's filling of the previously unmanned 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. patrol shift. Additionally, Hanson said it had been suggested to her that students had become more brazen in their defiance of open-container laws since it ceased to be an offense punishable by alcohol citation, thus inviting more attention from the police force.

President Liebowitz noted the success of an open meeting discussing the role of alcohol in social life on campus, while the SGA articulated the need to work within the parameters established by the new liquor inspector.

"Endlessly criticizing a system that the College itself is powerless to change isn't going to get us anywhere," one SGA member said. "We need to start working within the system in order to facilitate a social environment that is both safe and satisfying to students, as well as in compliance with the state's expectations."

To that end, Andrew Carnabuci '06 presented to the SGA a proposal for another College-sponsored transportation service that would provide rides from off-campus parties. While providing underage students with rides to parties where alcohol is being served is legally seen to be enabling those students to drink and therefore is not feasible under current Vermont state law, the College could potentially provide rides from these parties back to campus without assuming liability for drinking students had already done off campus, according to both Carnabuci and President Liebowitz. Carnabuci is working with the four other members of the SGA to investigate the various options for instituting such a service, and he hopes that eventually they will compose a bill that would make it a reality.

"As President Liebowitz said at the meeting," Carnabuci said, "the College is going to keep at least 60 students off-campus, so this is going to continue to be a problem. Why not do something now to solve it?"

He added, "This is an entirely grassroots movement, coming from the students upward. If students want to see something done about this, they need to be banging on the doors at Old Chapel, making sure it's known how important it is."

Berman expressed concern that many students still regard the SGA's effectuality with skepticism, but remains enthusiastic. "We are starting to hear from more people, and hopefully that trend will continue."

"I guess I don't really think that much about what the SGA is doing. I tend to have a lot of other things on my mind," said Ken Nakamura '06.5. He added, "It certainly seems like they have a lot on their plates, though. And they seem to be doing a really good job keeping up with it." Overall, Nakamura said, he was impressed with the SGA's efforts.