The Alcohol Task Force has proven to be effective this year. Since the program’s onset at the beginning of the fall, the number of calls and incidents they have responded to have decreased.

As reported last month in The University News, the task force began its patrol at the end of last year and has become more effective since.

It was also reported that the Department of Public Safety has been working with the Department of Residence Life in the development and enforcement of the program.

The elements from these two departments that work together are the Public Safety officers and representatives from Residence Life, such as Residence Assistants and Directory Assistants.

The aim of the program is to “use the task force as an enforcement, but equally an education,” said DPS Captain Rick Younger three weeks ago in an interview with The University News. Shawn Swinigan, director of Residence Life made a point this week of affirming Younger’s statement.

“The Department of Housing and Residence Life works with the Department of Public Safety to help educate students about alcohol,” said Swinigan, “and enforce policy set by the University regarding the use and possession of alcohol.”

The policy, as stated in the student handbook, says: “Saint Louis University supports and complies with the laws of the State of Missouri, which prohibit underage and public consumption of alcohol …

“Students who are not of legal drinking age (21 years) are not permitted to possess or consume alcohol in the residence halls/apartments.”

These policies have not been altered or changed in any way since the onset of the task force. The program is used as a body to enforce the policies of Residence Life and SLU at no extra cost to Residence Life.

The school’s addition of the task force has not placed any more of a strain on the residence advisors and duty assistants in the residence halls. “The task force has not changed in the duties of the RAs or DAs. The Residence Life staff still enforces policies outlined in the student handbook,” said Swinigan. “The task force has provided additional support to our staff in dealing with policy violations, including the University’s alcohol policy.”

Many students have raised questions and criticisms concerning the new program early in the school year. Residence Life plans to address these issues in the future. “Once students understand the rationale for the task force, they realize its importance. Any time there is something new students are going to raise questions and bring about concerns,” said Swinigan. “As those have been brought to our attention, we have addressed them on an individual basis.”

The task force has been working with SLU students and residents to make the campus a safer place for all.

Swinigan offered this statement about their mission: “Our goal is that we provide a residential community at SLU that would enhance the learning environment and provide each student the opportunity to grow and develop. Our hope is that the Department of Housing and Residence Life provides you an environment to live, learn and build lifelong relationships. To provide that we have to create an environment that is conducive to all 3,200 residential students that are apart of our community.”