Students, administrators address alcohol concerns

Adrienna Huffman
COURTESY PHOTO

Student transports to the hospital due to alcohol consumption have risen in the past year from seven students in the 2002-2003 school year to 22 thus far this fall.

In Thursday night’s alcohol forum at Ursa’s Fireside, University administrators addressed this issue, discussing alcohol policies and issues on campus, including the newly revised policy for student group events.

The forum was a Senate project organized by freshman Lindsey Grossman. She said that the goal was to “facilitate communication and dialogue between the administration and students regarding alcohol at Washington University.”

University administrators participating in the forum included Assistant Vice Chancellor for Students Jill Carnaghi, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Students Justin Carroll, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Students Karen Coburn, Director of Greek Life Karin Johnes, Office of Student Activities Coordinator Jen Conti, Associate Director of Residential Life Rob Wild, Residential College Director Rob Boyle, and Vice Chancellor of Students and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences James McLeod.

Much of the forum focused on the new student group alcohol policy, which was implemented this year during WILD, Bauhaus and Vertigo. The new measures include wristbands to identify 21-year -olds and those students under 21 years of age at large student events. The changes also require student groups to have a third-party vendor to provide any alcohol and allowing only one guest per student to campus events.

Conti said that the alcohol policy change was for student group events only, and was not intended to strip students of all opportunities to drink on campus.

“The end goal here is not to make this a dry campus, it’s to make it a safe campus,” said Conti.

Carroll said that he did not foresee the University becoming dry.

“I’m not sure what it means to be a dry campus-I’ve never been to one,” said Carroll.

The student audience asked questions about the effects of the new student group event policy. One student challenged the policy, saying that students might have been more likely to engage in binge drinking before WILD instead of moderately drinking during the event if alcohol had been allowed.

“That perception was unfounded [on] the evening of WILD,” said Carnaghi. “Yes, people were intoxicated-drinking-but [judging by the overall] tenor of that crowd…it worked.”

Of much concern to the administrators, though, was the increase in students transported to the hospital as a result of alcohol.

“This year there have been more cases that are really, really scary, messages in the middle of the night saying that we’re not sure if the student’s going to make it,” said Coburn.

Coburn also said that of the 22 transports, 8 students were intubated.

“The piece that concerns me the most has to do [with the fact] that everyone transported was around other people,” said Carnaghi. “How can we prevent it from getting that far?”

The administration believed that multiple factors led to the increase in transports, but that students were reacting through the proper channels.

“The 22 transports to the hospital emergency room are disturbing, but on the other hand we’re glad students call EST,” said Coburn.

Carrol was hopeful that students know the right procedures in these situations.

“Are more students drinking excessively? We’re not sure, but more students are responding to our resources,” said Carroll.

The panel also took the time to talk about some of the concerns students have expressed and about recent alcohol-related goings-on around campus.

Boyle, who is in charge of the University’s social norming campaign that began three years ago, said that it was not implemented because of campus alcohol issues.

“Our participation in the social norms campaign is completely separate from the new alcohol policy,” said Boyle.

The campaign is in its third and final year, while the new alcohol policy was only developed over a year ago.

Additionally, the forum cleared up rumors about the closure of the Rat.

“The Rat was run by Food Services, which couldn’t turn it without a loss,” said Carroll. “It was purely a financial decision.”

Carnaghi confirmed that the Rat’s closure was a function of waning business.

“One night, after it had been raided by campus police, sales were $4.20 for the entire night,” said Carnaghi. “It could still be in operation, but students just stopped coming.”

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