Campus aims to increase alcohol safety with new ‘BASICS’ sanction, emergency action guidelines

Starting this fall, University of Wisconsin–Madison students who commit alcohol-related violations of university policy will likely be required to take a class called BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students) as part of the disciplinary process, according to Dean of Students Lori Berquam.

“BASICS is a tool designed to educate students about the potential dangers of alcohol misuse. By requiring it after alcohol-related offenses, we hope to help students avoid academic trouble, legal trouble and health problems — all of which are linked to unsafe consumption,” says Berquam, who serves as co-chair of the Chancellor’s Alcohol Policy Group with University Health Services (UHS) executive director Sarah Van Orman.

“BASICS is used on many other college campuses and has been rigorously evaluated for years now,” says Tom Sieger, director of prevention services and campus health initiatives at UHS. “The committee selected it because a number of studies have indicated that the program is highly effective in helping 18- to 24-year-old students make better alcohol-use decisions.”

BASICS comes in two forms: a group experience with eight to 12 other students, conducted in two 90-minute sessions; or two one-on-one sessions with a professional substance-abuse counselor. Students may be instructed to attend one or the other, depending on their nature of their violation and whether it is a first offense. Students will be required to pay for any BASICS class they are required to attend: $78 for the group class and $200 for the one-on-one sessions.

In addition to the BASICS sanction, the chancellor’s group has approved new “Responsible Action Guidelines,” which inform students that they are expected to assist others in an emergency situation, such as calling 911 for a person who may have alcohol poisoning without fear that they will receive an underage alcohol citation if they were drinking unless there are mitigating circumstances.

“ASM made the Responsible Action Policy a priority because we wanted students to feel comfortable seeking help in the event of an emergency,” says Hannah Somers, chair of the Associated Students of Madison legislative affairs committee. “We want them to know that they should come forward if they experience or witness a sexual assault, and they should call for help and stay with a person who’s had too much to drink, and they shouldn’t be worried about getting a ticket.”

To help students get full and consistent information about the campus’s alcohol policies and sanctions, including details about BASICS and the full text of the Responsible Action Guidelines, the chancellor’s group created a new website.

The Chancellor’s Alcohol Policy Group includes representatives from Athletics, the chancellor’s office, University Housing, the provost’s office, the UW Police Department, the Wisconsin Union, the Office of Administrative Legal Services and the Associated Students of Madison.