University of Virginia Library

Maryland 'Drink-In'

Those students and alumni who might
have been a bit upset to have their thermos
jugs of spirituous liquors taken from them
at Scott Stadium should be thankful that
conditions here are not as stringent as those
at the University of Maryland.

A student-administration battle is raging
in College Park over the University's prohibition
rule which forbids possession or
consumption of alcoholic beverages on University
property. Under present rules, a
student who either possesses or consumes
on the campus can be suspended or expelled
from the school.

In an attempt to get the "dry campus"
rule liberalized, the Student Government
Association Cabinet announced that a
campus-wide "drink-in" would be held on
November 3, the night before homecoming,
unless the rules are changed. The "drink-in"
would entail serving alcoholic beverages
in dormitories and residential organizations
such as fraternities and sororities.

The University's president, William
Elkins, obviously something of an open-minded
prohibitionist, has stated that he
feels the present rule is good, but that it
could be studied. If, however, the student
government's proposed "drink-in" occurs,
the administration will not even study the
issue.

Faced with this decision, the student
government backed off a bit, deciding to
hold a referendum Monday to determine
student opinion. The cabinet also stated
that there will be no drink-in threat unless
it is clear that the administration will not
respond to a policy change.

The cabinet's goal is to permit drinking
in university housing and at approved social
functions by students over 21 years of age.
About two-thirds of the school's 23,000,
students are over 21.

A "dry-campus" rule such as Maryland's
cannot be truly effective. Students
will drink, if not on the campus then at
one of the neighborhood bars which dot
the Maryland countryside. The students'
proposal would create a situation at Maryland
not unlike that at our University,
and will hardly upset whatever serenity may
exist in College Park. We shall be interested
to see if Maryland's officials give the
proposal the serious consideration it deserves.