Clashing opinions sparked a heated debate Wednesday night when state legislators and student leaders came together to discuss a proposed across-the-board ban of alcohol in Iowa’s public and private post-secondary dormitories.

GSB voted 32-0 in favor of a resolution opposed to the alcohol ban after debate with the legislators. Two senators abstained from voting.

IRHA launched the battle against the ban with a resolution that parliament passed last week.

Rep. Rosemary Thomson, R-Marion, who wrote the House resolution, and other sponsors of the bill came to Ames to answer questions regarding the proposed ban.

“Binge drinking in particular is a problem on college campuses,” Thomson said. “It does impact health, safety and academics.”

Thomson said teen-agers who began to drink in high school find themselves on a “slippery slope to addiction” on an unsupervised college campus.

The resolution, she said, would allow the university to choose the most appropriate consequences for a violation of the ban. “The college, not the Legislature, will enforce the existing laws,” Thomson said.

Many senators, IRHA members and people in the gallery, however, questioned whether the ban was the right way to solve the problem.

“We all know there’s a problem,” said Luke DeKoster, RCA. “This bill ties the hands of the people who are already working to solve the problem.”

DeKoster added that the opposition to the bill is not based on students’ needs for alcohol.

Matt Welk, sophomore in agricultural education and resident assistant for Cassell House in Welch Hall, said the threat of criminal charges could drive students from the dorms.

“I think you’re looking in the wrong place to enforce this,” Welk said. “My job as an RA is to make the best possible environment [students] can have to be here and be successful.”

Jonathon Weaver, TRA and author of the GSB resolution opposing the ban, said the fight against the bill will continue.

“Representatives of the university will fight that legislation through every level,” he said. “I think this is going about the problem the wrong way.”

According to the proposed GSB resolution, “GSB believes that changes in ISU’s residence hall alcohol policy should be made by students and administrators, not state legislators.”

“Don’t underestimate the students’ power to make things right,” said GSB President Matt Craft. “I appreciate your concern, but I still feel this is not the best way to go about this. We’re adults. We can handle this.”

However, Thomson said legislators aren’t trying to restrict students; they are just trying to fix a problem.

“We care about you,” Thomson said. “We are trying to do the right thing.”

Thomson said she would welcome any constructive suggestions to improve the resolution via e-mail at [email protected]. ia.us.