President Bill Greer announced in the Student Government Association meeting on Thursday night that there will be a change in Milligan’s alcohol policy beginning in the fall of 2019.
Milligan’s Board of Trustees voted in October to keep the school’s campus dry, but now students who are legally allowed to consume alcohol may do so off campus.
“Milligan needs to be able to speak into this tradition of young adulthood turning into legal adulthood as it relates to all things,” Greer said in the meeting. “The current policy doesn’t reflect the trust that we want to have in our students.”
This new policy does not allow for alcohol on Milligan property or at sponsored Milligan events off campus, like That Big Party.
“This is not a permission slip to go out and party, but we’re extending a degree of trust to help them (students) grow into the Christian adults that we want to be,” Greer said.
Greer also made sure to explain to students that this was no easy policy to bring about. It took two years of discussion and careful thinking for a subcommittee to bring up the proposal. In the end, though, it was a unanimous vote by all of the board members.
The date of the policy’s announcement was chosen in order to be transparent with current and incoming students.
Greer reminded SGA members that prospective students are making their choices about schools in the spring, and it would not be fair to tell them but not current students about the policy change or vice versa.
Students in the meeting were surprised when they first heard the news concerning this new policy, but most said that it was about time.
“I think the school is finally choosing to acknowledge that drinking happens,” said SGA President Somang Lee. “I think a lot of students will appreciate the change because it’s a sign of respect from President Greer along with the board and admissions to respect our choices that are already legal.”
Greer stressed that only time will answer all of the questions that members asked, but that he, along with the faculty and staff, are putting faith in the ability for students to make responsible decisions.
“To be frank, I don’t think that this will have a huge impact on our campus,” said Director of Campus Activities Jason Onks. “For some people obviously it will mean more, but for many, it will just be like, ‘OK.’”
