New Penn panel to focus on student drinking

The perennial problem of student drinking is getting a new look at The University of Pennsylvania.  The school is forming a Commission on Student Safety, Alcohol and Campus Life to take on the task. 

Provost Vincent Price knows these problems have been part of college life for a while.

“Our goal is to be evidence-based in the way we do this work.  The aim here is to create the most vibrant and engaged and respectful community that we possibly can on campus — and that means having programs that work,” he said.

Price says the commission will review the status of student social life with a focus on consumption of alcohol and other drugs and the consequences for student conduct. 

“One of the things I do think has changed over the years is a systematic review of programs and data gathering to make sure that the programs that we put in place that we think are working are actually successful and can be determined to be successful,” he said.

Price says Penn wants to establish itself as a national leader in facilitating responsible student conduct. 

A 2010 fraternity party turned fatal after a student fell to his death, but Price says no single incident at the school led creation of the commission. 

The commission is expected to report its findings and recommendations by the end of this year.