The Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol Task Force, entering
its second year, and the Department of Housing and Residence Life,
are now packing new monies for education as well as new policies
for deterrence when it comes to dealing with under-aged drinking on
Saint Louis University’s campus.

According to Officer Keaton Strong, who works for DPS’s Cops and
Crime Prevention program as well as the ATF, the goal of the task
force is three fold: to promote alcohol safety on campus, to
enforce the University’s alcohol policy and to provide education
and assistance for students with alcohol-related problems.

Strong said the task force recently received additional funds to
bolster alcohol awareness education, a project it has undertaken
with the departments of student health, judicial affairs and
student life.

“Over the last year we’ve made a lot of improvements, including
additional training in alcohol-related offenses,” Strong said,
explaining officers are now better able to convey to students the
state and city penalties for drinking violations.

“If you can’t explain those penalties,” Strong said, “then you
have a problem because those are the offenses for which students
get into more trouble.”

According to Director of Residence Life Shawn Swinigan, last
spring an increase in vandalism, noise complaints and parties with
great numbers of people and large amounts of alcohol prompted
judicial affairs and residence life to take the problem to the
Student Government Association. SGA agreed to condemn such behavior
and adapted the University sanctions accordingly.

According to the 2003-2004 Student Handbook, first-time
violators of alcohol policies will receive a written warning and
must attend an educational program.

Second-time offenders risk probation from University housing
options, fines, parental notification and an alcohol assessment at
the Student Health and Counseling Center.

Third-timers will be removed from school housing and remain on
disciplinary probation.

Among some of the policy provisions students are usually not
aware of are:

“Students residing in apartment living units and their guests
who are of legal drinking age may consume alcohol in the apartments
but without the presence of underage persons) other than assigned
occupant of the living unit).”

“Should you be found in a room/living unit in which an alcohol
policy is being violated, you may be subject to disciplinary
action, regardless of age.”

All first-year students have also been placed on their own
floors in all residence halls for the first time.

Swinigan explained, “We believe that having first-year students
living together in community with upperclass staff leaders allows
them to explore their new surroundings with other students also
adjusting to campus, to begin making their own decisions regarding
their behavior, and to minimize the negative effects of alcohol
misuse in their living environments.”

Both Strong and Swinigan said last weekend was wrought with
large, noisy parties to which DPS officers responded. In addition,
there were other parties in off-campus apartments over which DPS
has no jurisdiction.

“It seemed that some students were not aware of the position
they were placing themselves in with regard to losing their
apartment or their ability to sign up for one,” Swinigan said. He
added that the number of violations so far this year is comparable
to the number last year at this time, though.

Strong said he was surprised by the number of incidents over the
weekend but added that, overall, “I think most of our students are
on the right track as far as abiding by the rules and regulations
the University has set forth.”

Swinigan added: “It is our hope that this sanctioning will lead
to students making better choices when it comes to behavior that
affects the community around them.”