Tulane’s current alcohol policy does not only violate federal regulations, but also fails to reflect the practices administrators use to address alcohol-related incidents. This proves that Tulane shows a neglect when designing and not regularly enforcing or reviewing such policies.

When Tulane’s Alcohol Task Force began reviewing the policy in 2012, it could not even find evidence for the last time the policy had been reviewed even though federal regulations require Tulane to review its policy every two years. The Task Force found the policy Tulane did have in writing was in violation of Part 86 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations and because of Tulane’s lack of the review, the Task Force could not even determine how long it had been in violation of these regulations. This glaring oversight is irresponsible.

If that is not enough, the policy on record in and of itself was found incoherent and arbitrarily enforced. The need for a new policy is apparent, as even the Senate agreed it needs to be reformed, but that consensus is useless if the university continues this pattern of negligence. Tulane has failed to consistently update other policies, including its Medical Amnesty Program policy. As mentioned in The Hullabaloo’s Feb. 12 staff editorial, Tulane failed to keep track of its capital deficit. One policy reform is not enough to reverse this culture of negligence.

The senate’s current consideration of a new alcohol policy is a positive step in the right direction, but the university has to show it can actually uphold and monitor that policy over time.

Tulane can start by adequately enforcing the on-campus tobacco ban that took effect at the beginning of the academic year. Policies are useless if they are not enforced, and Tulane cannot expect students to respect its policies if it does not take those policies seriously itself.