Follow SIUE drinking rules or pay the prices

Brian Whittle
News Reporter

SIUE uses a variety of methods to keep drinking on campus safe and legal.

"Drinking may be a part of the university experience for some," Wellness Center Coordinator Mary Baya said, "but SIUE does not have a big problem with drinking."

Baya added that 73 percent of students drink fewer than three alcoholic beverages a week at SIUE, according to an alcohol and drug survey done by Core Institute, which administers drug and alcohol surveys for the entire country. Results from the survey also indicated that the amount of drinking at SIUE is slightly less than the national average.

Several regulations help maintain the low use of alcohol on campus, according to Baya.

Rules regarding alcohol consumption on campus have remained constant at SIUE, despite recent changes at SIUC, according to Randy Rock, dean of students.

Rock said the basic policy is students under 21 are not allowed to drink and students over 21 must drink only in nonpublic places. The only major change to the policy came last year when the federal government passed a law allowing universities to call parents of students under the age of 21 when they commit infractions.

"Parents are only called for serious violations," Rock said. He added he deals mostly with students over 21 and has not had to notify anyone's parents.

Mike Schultz, director of housing, said he has had to notify only between 25 and 30 parents since the law took effect. Parents are notified when the student is placed on probation from a university residence. This normally occurs after the second time a student is caught with alcohol or drugs in campus housing facilities.

Enforcement of older rules also has contributed to the lower alcohol consumption on campus, Baya said. One of these rules is that residents in Cougar Village must fill out an "Event with Alcohol" application before a having a drinking party in their room.

The form, which must be turned in three business days before the event, has to be filled out only when there will be more than nine students in the room, according to Schultz.

"These requests are not filled out very often," Schultz said. He added that this rule is enforced every weekend.

In addition to enforcement of rules, the Wellness Center runs various programs and events throughout the year to promote an alternative to drinking. A recent nonalcoholic event, "Tons of Fun," sponsored by the Wellness Center, drew more than 1,000 guests, Baya said.

She added that other events on campus sponsored by the University Center, Kimmel Leadership Center and University Housing provide viable alternatives to drinking on campus.