Kansas University is seeking input from students on how to address alcohol abuse on campus through a committee open to all students enrolled at KU.

Following two alcohol-related deaths at the university last semester, administrators proposed a policy that would have allowed KU housing officials to enter students’ rooms if they suspected alcohol was being consumed.

That would have required a change to the university’s Code of Student Rights, which led to the formation of the KU Committee to Combat Alcohol Abuse and Investigate Housing Policy. However, Emily Williams, a graduate student in education and chairwoman of the committee, said that all options were on the table, and she is not interested in turning down suggestions from anyone.

Now, the committee is soliciting ideas and suggestions from students. The committee has an e-mail address — rightssubcomm@ku.edu — for input from students or the KU community.

Student attendance so far at the committee meetings has been light — about six students attended the first meeting, and 12 attended the second meeting on Thursday. Many of those 12 were there representing other groups, either as student senators or as leaders of on-campus organizations.

Any student who attends at least two meetings will be able to vote on the committee’s final recommendations, though any action will be nonbinding.

Just because it’s nonbinding, though, doesn’t make the action useless, Williams said.

“The entire point of this committee is to create policy from the bottom up,” she said.

Discussion on Thursday covered a wide range of topics, from whether to allow alcoholic beverage containers in student rooms at university housing to how the rules should vary for on-campus residents and those who live off campus.

Williams said she understands the magnitude of the issues and the culture of alcohol that persists on the KU campus and across the nation. But, she said she hopes that by meeting and beginning a discussion the committee can make some impact on the problem.

Sameer Sharma, an Overland Park senior and student senator, attended the meeting Thursday, and said that while he doesn’t drink, he often is affected by the culture on campus.

“I definitely think we’re taking the right steps,” he said. “I think this committee is going in the right direction.”

He said, however, he didn’t know whether it would have an impact in the end on those who choose to abuse alcohol.

“I really hope so,” he said.