The NIU alcohol task force, in conjunction with faculty members, is currently collecting data needed to conduct a survey of students’ needs on campus.

Providing the best student-centered services for students by taking a proactive approach to alcohol education is the main goal of the alcohol task force, said Amy Franklin, health enhancement acting director and co-chair of the alcohol task force.

The alcohol task force, initiated in the fall by Brian Hemphill, vice president for Student Affairs, is a three-part charge, Franklin said.

This includes the audit of the current programs and services that are available for NIU students, reviewing policies that impact students and bench-marking with other institutions, she said.

About 10,000 students have been randomly selected to receive an e-mail directing them to the survey, said Betty LaFrance, a member of the alcohol task force and a communication assistant professor. Three participants will be selected at random to receive a $100 cash prize, La France said. After the prizes are awarded, the names of the respondents who participated in the survey will be omitted, and their responses will be anonymous, she said.

“We are trying to get an accurate picture of the campus social scene and what’s happening on campus,” Franklin said. “One of our core values is student-centered service. So, conducting this needs assessment is just one way that we are trying to make sure what we propose to Dr. Hemphill will align with student need.”

Another way the task force is looking into student need is by conducting focus groups of students around campus, Franklin said.

The main goal of the 27 members of the alcohol task force is offering quality and state-of-the-art programs in alcohol education, said Kathy Hotelling, director of the Counseling and Student Development Center and co-chair of the alcohol task force.

Alcohol task force members include NIU faculty, staff, students and DeKalb community officials, Franklin said. The task force’s main concern is the success of students in academics.

“If there is something we can do and provide as a task force to help students’ chance of success, then we want to do that,” Franklin said.

As for the Greek Row stabbing incident that occurred late February, Franklin said the task force is “making all the efforts [it] can to review the current policies and procedures.”

Any incident that happens on campus is being taken into consideration during the process, she said.

The next meeting will be Friday in the Campus Life Building, though only task force members are allowed to attend.

The information from the meeting, published in a report form, will be made public once all the “legwork and recommendations to the vice president are made,” Franklin said.