In the first convocation of the semester, Bill Born, vice president for student life, introduced a new response plan for alcohol violations called BASICS. An acronym for “Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students,” Born refers to BASICS as a shift in judicial response.
Prior to BASICS, the main punishment for alcohol use was a fine. Now, Born said a goal with the new program is to “evaluate not the ‘who’ of drinking, but rather the ‘why.’”
After a referral to BASICS, students will choose one of five trained counselors on campus and meet twice with the counselor. Bill Born, Char Hochstetler, Launa Rohrer, Tamara Shantz and Bob Yoder have all received training and will work directly with the students.
“The goal is to help students look at the role that alcohol plays in their life,” said Susie Lambright, the Kratz and Miller resident director. “We want to help students fit the ‘who you are’ into the ‘where you are.’”
BASICS is a national program that Goshen College has adopted to fit the community and campus. Duane Kauffmann, a retired Goshen College psychologist, created a portion in the BASICS counseling that is “GC specific,” and will incorporate Goshen core values and community standards as part of the counseling.
The implementers of the BASICS program hope it will create a campus of respect where everyone is invited to grow. In the Monday convocation, Born invited all students, faculty and staff “to demonstrate sensitivity and concern for other perspectives and struggles.”
