IL: New Illinois law lets universities, community colleges allow alcohol sales
NWI.com
By Dan Petrella Lee Springfield Bureau Chief
July 20, 2016
SPRINGFIELD — The boards of trustees of Illinois’ public universities and community colleges can now decide whether to allow alcohol sales at campus events under a measure Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law late last week.
A few state universities already had that ability under previous law, but the option is now available to all public institutions of higher learning. The law applies only to public events that university officials determine are not “student-related activities,” and it requires each board of trustees to develop its own policy within six months.
Southern Illinois University is one of the most likely candidates to take advantage of the change. SIU pushed a separate bill, which was also approved in the General Assembly this spring, that would specifically give its board of trustees permission to allow alcohol sales.
John Charles, executive director for governmental and public affairs, said the school’s bill was drafted that way because other universities didn’t express interest in the idea when SIU approached them.
Charles said the idea of allowing alcohol sales at football and basketball games and other events arose during the state’s historically long budget impasse.
“As we were entering into the fourth or fifth month of not having a budget last year, we talked to different lawmakers and staff, and they certainly suggested that we find creative ways to help increase revenue around campus,” he said. “And this was one of them.”
SIU President Randy Dunn told trustees at their meeting last week at the SIU School of Medicine in Springfield that it’s unlikely alcohol sales will begin during the upcoming football season because the board still needs to develop its policy.
“I think we’re probably going to be very hard-pressed to get that done for fall of ’16,” Dunn said.
Other universities don’t appear poised to quickly follow SIU’s lead on alcohol sales.
Jay Groves, Illinois State University chief of staff, said trustees haven’t taken up the issue, and it’s not on the agenda for their Friday meeting.
Eastern Illinois University spokeswoman Vicki Woodard wrote in an email, “While Eastern welcomes having the discretion to exercise such an option if we ever felt so inclined, we have no plans or desire to do so at this time.”
Charles said SIU still hopes Rauner signs its bill because the legislation also includes a provision that would allow underage students in the school’s fermentation science program to taste but not consume the beverages they make.
Anita Bedell, executive director of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction Problems, said allowing alcohol sales at campus events is a move in the wrong direction.
“There’s enough problems with alcohol on college campuses,” Bedell said. “The colleges have worked very hard to try to prevent problems. … This is not a good way to get money when the students or the community are harmed.”
Rauner also signed a bill into law Friday that gives public library boards the option of allowing alcohol sales at educational, cultural or fundraising events.