Alcohol free campus, not alcohol free students
By: K.J. Stimpson
Issue date: 11/4/08 Section: News
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"The university has a zero-tolerance for alcohol use on any university owned property," said Steven Estock the Director of Housing and Residence Life.
Students living on campus, however, still find ways to violate the university's alcohol policy.
According to Estock, although alcohol busts have decreased in number over the years, they still occur among students living in campus residences.
Students who are underage sometimes are the students involved in these busts on campus, receiving their alcohol from outside sources since they are not 21 years of age.
According to students, who wish to remain anonymous to avoid legal or disciplinary action, two of their primary sources for alcohol are friends that are of legal drinking age and parties. Though it is less common, some students said they bring alcohol back with them from home.
Among the anonymous students, they claimed their drinking varied in frequency, depending on parties, their usual times for drinking being on the weekends when parties are most prominent.
A freshman, 18, said her alcohol increased after mid-terms because she wanted to "blow off steam" that came from all the stress of school.
Another freshman, 20, said he tries to drink as often as he can.
According to Estock, for alcohol violations there are four courses of action taken, each one determined by the severity and repetition of the offense.
One course of action is a behavioral contract the offender must sign saying they will abstain from this violation again.
Another is the offender must enroll in an online education that costs $75 to be paid by the student.
A course of action that is also taken is the offender's parents are notified of the violation.
Then the most severe of consequences, which may occur after multiple violations, is removal from their residence on campus.
Students at this point may also face possible disenrollment from the university depending on the severe nature of the infraction.
Resident Assistants are trained by police officers, counseling and career services and others who may help them know what to do in the event of an alcohol violation.
"Thank god no," said a sophomore, 19, about the fact she had never been caught in possession of alcohol on campus.
A new addition this year to the alcohol policy is the use of a breathalyzer when students are suspected of being intoxicated.
According to Estock, the decision to use breathalyzers came, in part, from a trend seen on other campuses.
"We're seeing more and more students coming back at a point of intoxication where they may be a threat to themselves," said Estock. "The reason the policy came into existence is mainly out of concern for student welfare."