University Housing changes policies

University Housing has enacted two policy changes for the new academic year to further participate in the campuswide effort to reduce binge drinking among students.

Beginning this fall, empty alcoholic beverage containers will not be permitted in the rooms of students under the age of 21. The change has been made as a practical matter of enforcement and to avoid disagreements regarding violations of the alcohol policy, says Housing Director Paul Evans.

In addition, guests who are of legal drinking age may no longer consume alcohol in rooms in which both residents are under 21. Student rooms in which both residents are under the legal drinking age of 21 must be alcohol-free at all times, he says.

“We know that high-risk drinking is one of the leading causes of serious injury, legal trouble and academic failure among college students,” Evans says. “These changes further set the expectation that alcohol abuse won’t be condoned in our residence halls.”

The changes were communicated to residents this summer in a letter from Evans. Parents of residents were given an in-depth briefing on the university’s alcohol policies during the health-and-safety portion of the campus’s Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (SOAR). The issue was explained from multiple perspectives, including University Police, University Health Services and University Housing.

University Housing will maintain its existing alcohol policies in university residence halls, including:

• No person under the age of 21 may store, possess or consume alcoholic beverages in residence halls.
• Only residents who are at least 21 years old may consume alcoholic beverages in their rooms; the residents’ guests must also be at least 21 years old to consume alcoholic beverages in the rooms.
• No one may provide alcohol to anyone under 21.

Violations of the alcohol policy may lead to a police citation, dismissal from the residence halls or referral to the Offices of the Dean of Students. Educational components for residents may include referrals to e-CHUG, an alcohol tutorial, or to an alcohol discussion group provided through the Counseling and Consultation Services arm of University Health Services, or both.

University Housing continues to sponsor late-night and weekend activities as an alternative to alcohol use.