Controversy to raise beer-limit comes to a head Daniel J. Fitzgibbons CHRONICLE STAFF March 10, 2000      Amid a bad brew of negative publicity, Student Affairs officials this week reversed a days-old decision to allow students of the legal drinking age to bring 30-can cases of beer into their residence halls. The old limit was 24 beers.      Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Javier Cevallos rescinded the ruling on Monday after the decision was criticized in a flurry of media reports. Cevallos made the announcement after consultation with Chancellor David K. Scott who had been out-of-town traveling for the last 10 days. The recommendation to raise the limit to 30 cans had been urged by the Student Government Association. "After apprising the chancellor, I decided to go back to the more limited amount," Cevallos said.      Scott also said that the campus will begin an immediate review of the amount of alcoholic beverages students are permitted to take into the residence halls, with a view to possibly eliminating cases of beer altogether.      "We have a general concern about the amount of alcohol allowed in the residence halls," Cevallos said. "On the other hand, we are dealing with adults who are more than 21 years of age and who are legally allowed to buy and consume alcohol."      Scott said, "We have a clear, consistent alcohol policy with a strong educational component supported by strict sanctions. Increasing the amount of beer allowed in our residence halls would detract from our serious efforts to improve our policies, our sanctions, and our educational efforts."      Scott said the decision to increase the amount allowed by a six-pack was out of line with the campus's general approach in the past few years to curb alcohol abuse. Measures taken include a ban on alcoholic beverages at Homecoming, a decision made in 1997 and added to the long-time campus ban on alcohol at other outside events; the institution of tougher, more consistent sanctions against violations of the alcohol policy in 1998; parental notification to begin next fall for students facing removal from housing, suspension or expulsion from the University as a result of alcohol and drug violations; and on-going meetings with town officials about extending the University's Code of Conduct off campus.      Mandated sanctions for violations of campus alcohol policies range from referral to an educational workshop and/or substance abuse counseling, relocation to another residence hall, removal from campus residence and/or suspension from the University.