Steps are underway to change the College's current alcohol policy.

A subcommittee of the College Affairs Committee (CAC) met for the first time on Monday, November 2, to begin addressing the sixth and seventh recommendations from the Campus Culture Working Group's (CCWG) report.

The report, passed unanimously by the Board of Trustees on the weekend of October 16, seeks to address "the broader issue of drinking as a feature of Colby student life."

While the report makes 10 recommendations, many of which are extensive and will be long-term projects, the recently formed subcommittee is addressing the following two:

* The College should abolish the alcohol points system and charge the Dean of Students Office, in conjunction with the CAC, to develop a clearer and more transparent disciplinary program concerning alcohol use.

* The College should adopt a new policy with regard to the use of hard alcohol on campus. Specifically: Students who are 21 or older should be permitted to possess and consume beer and wine on campus (i.e. in residence halls and at approved events); and the use and possession of hard alcohol on campus during the academic year should be limited to the Pub and licensed catered events.

The group will be drafting policy in direct response to the above recommendations.

While the group does not have a timeline yet, "I think we'd like to see the work of this group done by the end of the semester," Senior Associate Dean Paul Johnston, one of the subcommittee members, said.

The subcommittee is made up of six members, all of whom serve on the CAC. There are two administrators, one faculty member and four students.

Johnston said, "As has been the case, we would continue to encourage people who haven't read it to read it, and if there are folks out there who have suggestions or recommendation that they'd like the committee to consider, they can channel that through me."