JMU SGA Vice President resigns- alcohol charges involved

In an article in the JMU The Breeze newspaper (see link:  http://www.breezejmu.org/) it reports that " Brock Wallace, two-term vice president of student Affairs, stepped down at Tuesday's senate meeting in a move that few expected as senators prepared to motion for impeachment."  Wallace was charged "...with underaged possession of alcohol and an open container charge on Oct. 15. He is on supervised probation for one year after pleading guilty in September for indecent exposure charge stemming from an incident in a Belk restroom in Valley Mall."
  It is encouraging to see the JMU student leadership holding an officer accountable for alcohol misconduct.  Maybe there is a beginning student led movement to change the negative alcohol culture at JMU.  The NIAAA report notes the need for student involvement as a necessary step to changing the alcohol culture at a university as noted below: (see link for full report: http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/NIAAACollegeMaterials/TaskForce/TaskForce_TOC.aspx)

The Need for Student Participation in Prevention Policymaking and Programs

Both college presidents and student members of the Task Force reiterated the importance of involving students in rethinking a school's approach to high-risk student drinking. Students are not only the primary targets and beneficiaries of prevention programs, but also key contributors to their successful implementation (Mara, 2000; Presidents Leadership Group, 1997).

In their discussions about the practical issues involved in developing and sustaining workable policies, Task Force members described several areas where student participation not only improved a school's policy, but also increased campus-wide "ownership" of the prevention efforts emanating from it (Mara, 2000).

These include participation in (Mara, 2000):

• Campus-based task forces to direct prevention program efforts and develop specific strategies for promoting change in student organizations;
   
• Joint campus and community coalitions;
   
• Reviews of proposed policies before they are finalized;
   
• Judicial reviews by dormitory councils that hear cases of first alcohol infractions; and
   
• Training of student residence hall staff to eliminate communication of mixed messages about alcohol use on campus and improve consistent enforcement of alcohol policies.

From the Task Force's perspective, inviting students to share in the development and implementation of the recommendations outlined above will help ensure that the strategies selected meet an institution's specific needs and receive the continued attention required for success.