Take a walk around campus the morning after a football game and count the beer cans on your way.
Despite being a “dry” (alcohol free) campus, drinking is still a staple of gameday and weekends. Currently, UT has no medical amnesty policy that would protect students from punishment when seeking medical help for themselves or a friend.
UT’s policies on sanctions and parental notification are basically consistent with the other 13 schools in the Southeastern Conference, but drinking and medical amnesty policies vary some across the SEC.
Drinking policies
Hilltopics states that, in regards to alcohol, students can be disciplined for “consuming, manufacturing, possessing, distributing, dispensing, selling or being under the influence of alcoholic beverages on University-controlled property or in connection with a University-affiliated activity.”
Students can also face disciplinary action for violating state and local laws for underage drinking.
Five of the 14 SEC are considered dry campuses. One of those schools, the University of Kentucky, is now making plans to allow alcohol in select places on campus under certain circumstances according to Jay Blanton, executive director of public relations and marketing.
When UK President Eli Capilouto arrived on campus in 2011, he spoke with numerous groups on and off campus on how to review university policies and formulate recommendations related to health and safety, one of which was allowing alcohol in certain settings.
“How to implement that change and others that were recommended is what is being reviewed and formulated now,” Blanton said.
The remaining eight SEC schools are considered “wet” campuses, as long as the students are of legal drinking age. Most have specific locations alcohol is and is not allowed.
At the University of Florida, training or registration with the university regarding alcohol usage and safety is required. All first year students at UF are required to participate in an online alcohol education program before they can enroll for their second semester, Florida’s Associate Dean of Students Chris Loschiavo said.
Despite being a dry campus, Director of Health Education and Wellness Center Ashley Blamey said UT also provides similar alcohol training during the first year studies course.
“At orientation, new students attend ‘Be Smart, Be Safe, Be a VOL’ which continues the conversation started by the module and provides additional information and real life scenarios on the choices related to alcohol,” Blamey said. “This session focuses on safety training that includes when to involve campus resources…”
Medical amnesty
UT does not currently have a medical amnesty or good Samaritan policy, though one was it has been discussed in the administration, and been apart of SGA platforms.
“The Division of Student Life has recently undergone a transition and will likely take another look at this issue was we revamp our student conduct processes,” Amy Blakely, assistant director for UT Media and Internal Relations.
SGA President Kelsey Keny said that though the creation of a medical amnesty policy goes beyond SGA and UT administrators, the creation of such a policy would require a great deal of research and in-depth conversations.
“I believe this type of policy keeps students’ safety as the top priority and potentially saves lives,” Keny said. “If a policy like this helps a student make a decision that keeps (them) or a friend safe, then I think it’s valuable to campus life. Again, it would take a great deal of extensive development, but SGA would love to be a part of any conversation and process to promote and create an amnesty policy.”
Schools that do have some type of official medical amnesty or good Samaritan policy include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. Arkansas and Kentucky are working to have medical amnesty policies starting this fall.
Mississippi State University Dean of Students Thomas Bourgeois said his university does not have an official written policy, but uses “common sense” when handling the cases of students who violated university alcohol policy.
“Our office… does not want the threat of punishment to prevent students from reporting individuals in danger or crisis,” Bourgeis said. “We cover this in the residence hall floor meetings and with our Greek students about helping students in need.”
At the University of Missouri, Kim Dude, director of the Wellness Resource Center, said though there is no official medical or good Samaritan policy, the student conduct office would not get involved if students called for help.
“Both our campus police and city police have said it is not their practice to arrest anybody for doing the right thing,” Dude said.
University of South Carolina Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Academic Support Jerry Brewer said USC doesn’t have a policy in place, and first responders wouldn’t cite anyone for calling for help, but students would be contacted for a follow up counseling session about alcohol usage.
“The general feeling was if you put a good Samaritan policy (in place) it basically is giving people permission to do things they shouldn’t do to start with.”
Repercussions and parental notification
Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, if a student under 21 violates alcohol policy, their parents will be notified. Some schools only notify parents after a second offense. Other sanctions the student will face varies on a case by case basis, but Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards Timothy Burkhalter said the university values a learning-centered approach to violations.
In regards to alcohol education, the Health Education and Wellness Center encourages parental involvement to prevent alcohol related incidents and evaluate family expectations, family history of substance use and possible family consequences of use, Blamey said.
The University of Alabama cites parental involvement as key to success after a student is found in violation of the school alcohol policy. The students can sign a release giving the university permission to contact their parents.
“This is often helpful when students are facing the possibility of suspension from the University,” Executive Director of Student Conduct Todd Borst said. “Most often it is the student who shares this information with their parents. This is a position we actively encourage. Parental support is a key ingredient in a student’s long term success, no matter what the judicial outcome.”
Though violations are usually dealt with according to the situation, most of the SEC schools include an educational component to sanctions after a student has been found in violation of the respective school’s alcohol policy. Other sanctions included suspension and possible expulsion, as well as legal consequences.
Interactive: Drinking and Medical Amnesty Polices in the Southeastern Conference
Graphic courtsey of Samantha Smoak
