Once again, student leaders found themselves beguiled of a potentially enriching and alcohol-related event. The story of this Friday’s A.S. Programming-hosted event — a revival of its “Thank God It’s Friday” concerts — tells like every other story, with the same characters doing the same thing. In this instance, a student affairs policy bars the programming office from advertising the presence of alcohol. The rule even restricts statements suggesting the presence of alcohol.

The message from Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Joseph W. Watson, however, seems to run counter to his own policy. Two years ago, Watson nixed a proposal for a Sun God beer garden. He glossed over the decision by stating that he would permit gardens at events less alcohol-driven than the annual concert.

But here we are, with this Friday’s “Bear Garden.” The play on “beer” is a product of the student affairs office’s rigidity on alcohol. A beer garden will be present, but the university is handicapping the event by barring advertisement of alcohol.

To deal with the university’s archaic stance on alcohol, along with its duplicity between speech and action, students are forced to tiptoe around the policy. And, like children, they’ll play Scrabble with “beer” to have it.

Games aside, the university should recognize its losing battle with alcohol; a regulated, scrutinized new policy on it is better then hollow defenses.