TWIN FALLS - The State Board of Education approved Boise State University and University of Idaho’s request to waive Board policy and allow alcohol to be served at sponsored tents at fall 2004 home football games. The Board voted 5 to 1 with Rod Lewis dissenting.
According to a Board policy approved in June, college and university presidents could authorize alcohol consumption for a specific event or activity on campus pursuant to a permitting process and associated guidelines, with the exception of student athletic events. The new policy is designed to give university presidents the flexibility to determine which events merit a permit for the consumption of alcohol, allowing colleges and universities to manage the delivery of alcohol responsibly. The policy did not authorize permits for alcohol at student athletic events. College and university presidents can still come to the State Board for additional waivers for specific events not within the policy.
The Board previously asked institutions to bring forward specific requests for the use of alcohol at athletic events rather than grant full authorization in the Board’s policy. “The Board did not authorize the use of alcohol in student athletic events in the original policy because we wanted to have a discussion with the institutions in each instance. It gives the Board the opportunity to get more information about the process universities will use to serve alcohol at the specified athletic function,” said President Rod Lewis.
The Board approved BSU and UI’s request subject to a review, at the end of the 2004 season, of each institution’s experiences during the current year.
The State Board upheld, on a 4 to 1 vote with Karen McGee dissenting, the Moscow School District’s decision to close the Renaissance Charter School. “I’ve poured through this material and this is a very difficult decision,” said Board member Sue Thilo. “I like the idea of choice in education, but there were substantial deficiencies identified by the Moscow School District that were not rectified.”
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