Statesman

Issue date: 12/3/08 Section: Student Life

Media Credit: Tyler Sweeney A vodka bottle in a recycling bin in Heaney Hall.

Did you hear about the kid who got taised outside of Junction apartments because he ran from the cops? How about that boy from your communications class who jumped out a window when the police came in his dorm? And we all have those neighbors who blast Weezy and get minors, along with 10 of their closest friends.

Among college students, especially freshmen, there are always stories floating around Monday morning about who got caught that weekend, and the people who got away with drinking. It is well-known by UMD's Head of Conduct, Kathy Skelton, that the number of students that are getting away with having and consuming alcohol on campus is high.

"I hear it from students all the time," Skelton said.

According to a 2006 survey for UMD Alcohol Statistics, 80.3 percent of students claimed they used alcohol during the month the survey was taken, and 75.1 percent of students under 21 said the same thing. So how do students get away with it?

"I drink every weekend in my dorm and than walk around campus to house parties," said an anonymous freshman student that lives in the residence halls. "I just don't draw attention to myself in public, and no one ever questions me."

John Weiske, of the UMD Housing department, said that freshmen students are the most prone towards violating the dry-campus regulations, and that because of the high number of freshmen students living in the on-campus apartments, that's where most consumption tickets are given out.

"Many times the staff are just going for a noise complaint," he said. "They just end up seeing it and of course, enforce the university policy."

Skelton agreed. She said the main reason security is called is to deal with students when they draw attention to themselves. This is usually involving noise complaints, staggering in the hallways or even just smelling like alcohol.

Last year, 340 students had liquor law violations, of which 250 cases were on campus, according to UMD crime statistics. There are no statistics yet this year, but Skelton said that so far, numbers have increased. The consequences have also become more strict, due to situations last year where students were sent to detox multiple times.

The current policy for students who get caught with alcohol on campus is as follows:


First offense: $182 fine from the city of Duluth, $75 alcohol education class and $150 chemical dependency evaluation for UMD's Student Conduct Code;

Second offense: $282 fine from the city of Duluth and a court appearance, and $150 chemical dependency evaluation, 2-3 page research paper, probation and possibly suspension or expulsion from UMD;

Third offense: $382 fine from the city of Duluth and a court appearance, $150 chemical dependency re-evaluation, counseling, possible suspension or expulsion and other appropriate sanctions from the UMD conduct office.


There have only been a couple of suspensions and expulsions so far this year. Both Skelton and Weiske said they based those on the severity of the offenses, and that it usually only occurs because violence is involved somehow.

Weiske said the largest issue for UMD is binge drinking.

"It's obvious that the campus is concerned about the level of drinking, and the number of students that drink in excess," he said. "The biggest thing is looking at students safety. We haven't yet found the key to help students reduce their consumption level."



The UMD Statesman promotes thinking before drinking, which includes irresponsible and underage drinking in any situation.

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