Beer could soon be flowing again at the Kansas Union.

A group of student senators plans to lobby the Kansas University administration to allow 3.2 percent beer to be sold at the union, with a special emphasis on responsible consumption.

“It would be a place to get a drink — not a place to get drunk,” said Steve Munch, student body president.

KU officials say they’re open to the idea of reinstating sales, which have been banned since 1998 following an alcohol task force recommendation.

“I think it’s worth exploring,” said Marlesa Roney, vice provost for student success. “This isn’t a party place, but I don’t think from talking with Steve Munch that’s the idea.”

Munch and several student senators have drafted a petition, to be discussed at Student Senate beginning tonight, that would urge the KU Memorial Corporation Board, which governs the unions, and KU administrators to consider allowing beer sales.

Munch said he thought the group would propose selling 3.2 percent beer in the first floor of the Kansas Union, which includes the Jaybowl bowling alley and Hawk’s Nest gathering area. He said adding other alcoholic beverages or expanding service to the Burge Union, could be possible in the future.

Beer already is sold in student unions at Wichita State University and Kansas State University.

It was allowed at KU until 1998, when a task force of city, KU and Haskell Indian Nations University representatives said sales should be stopped, among other recommendations. The task force was formed shortly after a KU student, Lisa Rosel, was hit and killed by a car driven by another KU student, Matt Vestal, as she walked in the 1400 block of Tennessee. Both Rosel and Vestal were intoxicated, police said.

Munch noted that the students involved in the accident had not purchased their beverages at the union.

“This is pushing more toward responsible behavior rather than prohibition,” Munch said of allowing sales. “Alcohol use, whether you consider it good or bad, is part of society and certainly part of college culture. We should acknowledge that and show there is a responsible way to drink. This could be a model establishment, a place that does follow all the rules and guidelines.”

Roney said preventing underage drinking, limiting university liability and easing potential concerns from business owners about competition would be among the university’s priorities if the proposal moves forward.

David Mucci, who directs the unions, said he thought sales could be done safely at the Kansas Union, with no drink specials or pitchers of beer, and arm bands issued to those over 21.

“I think we’d want to do it, if we did it, in a way that did not contradict something the institution is very concerned about, and that’s not having alcohol become a problem in people’s lives,” Mucci said.

He said the students’ plan — to foster a campus discussion about the issue — was a good one.

“They’re not saying, ‘We demand a kegger or we want a drunken stupor,'” Mucci said. “This is a reasonable approach.”

Even so, Nick Lawler, a student senator and senior from Kansas City, Mo., said convincing administrators to go along with the proposal probably wouldn’t be easy.

“I think it’s going to be pretty difficult,” Lawler said. “It’s kind of a sticky situation, but in the end, at least we can tackle the issue. It’s definitely worth trying to see what we can do about it.”

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