What Students Need to Know About Alcohol Use on Campus

It is no secret that across the nation, alcohol can be a powerful social influence for students at the college level. Statistics found at unf.edu say that as high as 83 percent of students drink while in college. It is safe to say that alcohol is likely to affect each and every college student in one way or another. If (for some reason) students ever want to consume alcohol on campus at Nebraska Wesleyan  University, there are many different things that they should know.

First off, who is able to drink on campus? According to the NWU Handbook, unless you are legal drinking age (21 years or older), any consumption of alcohol is not permitted and is subject to disciplinary action. There are absolutely no exceptions to this rule. Even if a student is 21 years or older, there are some conditions that must first be followed before a student can legally drink on campus. Only rooms that have declared themselves as Alcohol Tolerant are permitted to have alcohol. To declare a room/suite/unit alcohol tolerant, all roommates must go to the Residence Life and Housing Office located in Centennial Hall. From there, a student must show a legal form of identification to a Residence Life Coordinator or the Coordinator of Housing Operations and sign an alcohol tolerant card for their living space. This must then be displayed somewhere in the room. This process can take place only after all roommates have reached the age of 21. It is important to understand that all roommates must be 21, as Non Alcohol-Tolerant Rooms rooms cannot have any alcohol present in the room at any time, even if one or more of the residents living there or visiting are 21 years of age.

Once a living unit is declared Alcohol Tolerant, there are many conditions that need to be followed. For example, one may question if any type of alcohol can be consumed on campus? The answer is simply, "No." For example, absolutely no grain alcohol or beer in glass bottles is allowed. Bulk containers holding more than one liter of alcohol (i.e. kegs, partyballs, multiple cases of beer) are not permitted on campus property. Any item that is considered to enhance the ingestion of alcohol is also prohibited. This includes beer bongs, funnels and shot glasses. Playing any type of drinking game is also prohibited on campus property.

What about guests? Any guest that is in a campus living unit is also held to the same standards of a NWU student and is the responsibility of the student who invited them. Students who are 21 years of age may only consume alcohol in rooms designated Alcohol Tolerant; doors to alcohol tolerant rooms must be closed when alcohol is being consumed. While drinking alcohol in an Alcohol Tolerant room, all persons (residents or guests) must have a valid form of identification. Students who are 21 or older are prohibited from selling or supplying minors with alcohol of any kind in any situation.

Students are also fully responsible for their own behavior when drinking alcohol on campus. For instance, public intoxication and/or disruptive behavior related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages will be considered a violation of the alcohol policy. No open containers of alcohol may ever be carried or transported anywhere on campus, and any student caught doing so will also be subject to punishment for violating the alcohol policy. Again, it is vital to stress that alcohol can only be consumed in Alcohol Tolerant rooms, and the consumption or possession of alcohol in any public area, such as basements, dining rooms, halls, lounges, etc. is strictly prohibited. Lastly, it is important to know that persons who are under 21 years of age may not possess alcoholic beverage containers—full or empty—anywhere on campus.

Through a plethora of previously mentioned conditions, NWU hopes to keep students responsible in terms of their legal alcohol use. Above all, it is important for the university to keep students safe, and any violation of these previously mentioned policies can lead to various sanctions. Information regarding the sanctions for violations can be seen in the Residential Conduct Procedures Regarding Misconduct of the Univesity's Alcohol Policy in the NWU Student Handbook. Lastly, it is important to discuss campus and city resources related to the use of alcohol. Wesleyan Wheels provides a free, safe ride home for all current NWU students. A student must provide a valid NWU identification card and call 402-477- 4111 between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Other important local resources to note are the Lincoln Police Department (911 for emergencies or 402-475-7273) and the Alcohol/Drug Crisis Line (402-475-5683).