The departments of Student Life and Public Safety decided Friday that the semiannual Modfest celebration will be held on Dec. 10, overturning the event's cancellation in early October due to various safety concerns.The announcement arrives after the administration reviewed a proposal by Union senators Dilip Sidhu '05 and Mitchel Balsam '05, detailing specific steps which must be taken to increase security and safety during Modfest.

Sidhu said the proposal aims to prevent underage drinking by ensuring that students present valid identification for alcohol and restricts the serving of alcohol from inside quad residences. The proposal also suggests measures to limit noise complaints.

According to Sidhu, Mods 1 through 36 will also not be permitted to host private parties or allow non-residents to enter the buildings during the event. Portable bathroom units will be adjacent to the upper Mods' main entrance, the proposal states.

"This [proposal] shows that the University is taking into account the risks of the students and we're taking measures to fix those risks," Sidhu said.

The proposal also states that six police officers will be stationed throughout the area - two between Mods 9 and 10, two at the main entrance where the alcohol will be served and two in the upper section of the quad. Officers will also aid in identifying intoxicated students, unsanctioned gatherings and other potential disturbances.

Only four Mods have not yet been reached to sign the proposal, thereby agreeing to its stipulations and acknowledging that any deviation will result in a citation.

The administration's concerns about continuing the party in the traditional fashion escalated this year after more underage drinking incidents than usual were reported at the event last spring, according to Balsam.

Balsam and Sidhu said drinking has increased ever since WBRS and Student Events opened the event to all students, not just seniors.

"This is a concern that just didn't happen now," Sidhu said. "It's been going on for the past few Modfests, and there's a concern that things could get out of hand this time, so the University needs to take steps in preventing underage drinking."

Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer said that because of an increase in the amount of students who were served too much alcohol-underage or not-the administration originally canceled Modfest this semester.

"The Modfests that happened as regular semester events, especially recent ones, have not been safe," Sawyer said. "People responsible for public safety, myself included, are not trying to not let students not have fun. We're just trying to be safe."

Sawyer said he grew alarmed when many students began acting unreasonably, endangering their health after consuming too much alcohol during Modfests.

"All of a sudden Brandeis students weren't acting like the Brandeis students I knew-party mode or not," Sawyer said.

Upon reviewing the proposal, Sawyer said that he was prepared to allow Modfest to occur this semester. He said that the proposal answered a lot of the administration's concerns about safety and accountability.

Sidhu said that it is important for students to abide by the rules, or otherwise Modfest could be permanently cancelled in the future.

"The administration is giving us another chance at having a fun, safe event, and a lot of people will be watching to make sure we don't mess up," Sidhu said.

Balsam said that implementing safety measures outlined in the proposal reduces the University's fears of underage drinking.

"If these regulations are needed to make sure that Modfest does not go out of control, I would be willing to abide by that because Modfest is a fun experience for everyone and it would be a shame that in our senior year, while we were living in the Mods, they did not allow it to occur," Mod resident Yuval Simchi-Levi '05 said.

Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan said that his department is committed to working with the administration and students to make Modfest run smoothly.