Sunset concerts and tailgate parties could face abolishment in the wake of a liability study on the alcohol policies at SIUC and SIUE, some student leaders say.

But SIUC Chancellor Donald Beggs said it is too early to tell what will change as a result of the examination and that such concerns are groundless at this point.

David Vingren, Undergraduate Student Government president, said students, USG and the Graduate and Professional Student Council should have input in any changes to the alcohol policy, including recommendations about Sunset Concerts and tailgate parties.

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Students should definitely be involved in this, he said. There is concern on behalf of the student body that this will take away liquor at Sunset Concerts and tailgate parties.

It’s just a good idea to stay away from those two events and work to try to maintain those events because there has never been a major problem at either event and there is no reason to tamper with them.

The initiative began in an October SIU Board of Trustees meeting. At that meeting, board members cited liability concerns raised at Louisiana State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology after both campuses were shaken by recent alcohol-related deaths.

The executive staff of the board then recommended that SIU President Ted Sanders examine SIUC and SIUE policies with an eye toward liability and get both policies in line with one another. Sanders has directed both chancellors to develop strategies to accomplish the changes. Sanders is expected to bring forth recommendations to the board at its May meeting.

Tim Hoerman, GPSC president, said policy changes could result in the University strictly enforcing a current policy that states the Student Programming Council cannot use student fee money to sponsor events with alcohol. He said this could effectively kill future Sunset Concerts.

We just want to be given a choice in this issue and be treated like the adults that we are, he said. We just want the board to keep an eye open for the policy they put in place so that it isn’t so drastic that it basically gets rid of events that are good for the University and the community.

Beggs said students will be involved with any decisions that lead to changes in the alcohol policy. He said, however, that it is too early to speculate what those changes could be.

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He said the abolishment of the Sunset Concerts or tailgate parties has not been discussed.

The whole policy allows for exceptions, and those are the two exceptions, he said. You don’t go into something like this with preconceived ideas.

Those who wish to start rumors are advocating a position.

Beggs said liability is a critical issue to the Board of Trustees because such liability opens the University to lawsuits.

What we are trying to do is have a complete review of the policy without emotionalism or preconceived ideas, and a significant issue now is, Are we liable and what is our liability?’ Beggs said. Beggs said the group that will be examining the policy has not yet been formed, but it will include student representation, legal counsel and representatives from wellness groups.

Once the group is formed it will examine the current policies at SIUC and SIUE and look for liability issues. Beggs said he hopes that any revised policy is understood by students.

Literally our job is to look at the existing policies and identify commonalties and differences, he said. It bugs me that people can tell me what a policy is, but don’t know why we have that policy.

Peter Ruger, University legal counsel to the SIU Board of Trustees, agreed that the outcome of the review is undetermined, and that the goal is clarity.

It’s impossible to speculate what will come of this, he said. My perspective is that this will make the policies understandable for the institution and constituents.