Olympic spirits?the liquid form?will flow on campus throughout February.
The Union, the Alumni House, the Museum of Fine Arts and Red Butte Garden will serve alcohol at Olympic-related events.
“We’re allowing things to happen during the break period that obviously won’t be allowed during the regular school year,” said Wayne McCormack, director of the U’s Olympic Coordination Office.
The laws regulating alcohol on campus create a dry campus, but if a third party rents out a campus building, it is no longer considered public, McCormack said. So, third parties can serve alcohol.
The German Olympic Committee has rented the Alumni House for the duration of the Games.
The rental fee is $100,000.
Although a third party is renting out various buildings, the U still has a say in the alcohol guidelines. Students cannot access areas serving alcohol, events must be invite only and the caterer must be licensed to serve alcohol.
Although these general rules apply, every building has specific rules about alcohol.
In the Union, corporations and entities involved with the Olympics are limited to serving only beer and wine, and only in specific areas.
“Areas will be cordoned off or parties will be held in private rooms,” said Whit Hollis, Union director, in a previous interview. “Parties serving alcohol will be Olympic related and separated from the U community. This isn’t a blanket policy. If ASUU wants to host a party with alcohol, that’s not going to happen.”
The point of serving alcohol is basically to keep up international relations.
“We’re trying to be good neighbors?good Olympic hosts,” Hollis said.
In a previous interview, Dean of Students Stayner Landward said serving alcohol will make international guests feel more comfortable.
“It’s under the heading of being a gracious host to countries where alcohol is a traditional part of a meal,” he said.
Although campus food services will serve the food and alcohol, the entity hosting the party will buy it, Landward said.
“The entities hosting the party can only serve alcohol in the room they rent, and they must purchase it,” he said.
Another factor playing into the serving of alcohol is the Olympic break.
“Students won’t be on campus during February, so there will be more separation from the campus community,” Hollis said.
Although the Union will be open, and students can use the public areas of the building, Hollis warns against drinking on campus.
“Students are not allowed to drink in the Union?this is not a policy change, we’re just being good hosts,” he said.