About 35 students attended a forum yesterday to discuss Ohio University's new, comprehensive alcohol response policy that features standardized reactions to alcohol- or drug-related violations.
Many students voiced concerns about being punished twice for a single violation at the forum held in the Baker Center's 1804 Lounge.
The new policy extends University Judiciaries' jurisdiction into off-campus violations. All students arrested or cited for alcohol- or drug- related misconduct will be referred for formal university judicial action G
you are a member of the Athens community as well as the university community said J. Malcolm Smith, interim director of University Judiciaries. We expect students to respect both and be responsible to both.
The forum featured five members of the Alcohol Policy Implementation Team and Athens Municipal Court Judge William Grim.
If it wasn't for alcohol my job would be easy
said Grim, who estimated half of his 6,000 cases were alcohol-related.
The new alcohol policy standardizes disciplinary actions for alcohol- or drug-related violations. Under the former policy, each case was judged on an individual basis.
You could get caught with an open beer can in your room when an RA walks by and get unlucky
then end up on probation and have to do community service
said junior Chris Diehl, a member of the Alcohol Policy Implementation Team. Someone else could be drunk and passed out in the shower and only get a reprimand.
First-time offenders will receive an automatic six-month probation and $100 fine. In addition, students who violate their probation will likely face suspension, except in extenuating circumstances. Under the previous policy, violations of probation generally resulted in extended probation.
The fine will go back to help fund intervention programs Primed for Life and BASICS. Students may be asked to attend the alcohol education programs based on their responses to an alcohol audit, a questionnaire to assess their level of alcohol use.
The majority of students here don't get into trouble and shouldn't have to pay for these programs that only an unfortunate few need to participate in
said Charlene Kopchick, director of Health Education and Wellness.
Also featured in the revamped alcohol response policy is notification of the parents of student-violators with fewer than 90 credit hours.
We felt that it was conflicting with the university's message that we are supposed to be responsible adults and individuals
Diehl said. Yet here they are sending letters to our parents like we're immature.
Judy Piercy, co-chair for the Coalition Advocating Responsible Drinking Decisions, said the various committees charged with creating the new policy struggled with the idea for a long time.
I think this is right and we need to try this to see if it works
she said. Parental notification is not a deterrent for the first offense
but for the second. We want to keep them around and have them be successful.
