UConn Weighs Campus Prohibition on Alcohol

A proposed alcohol ban for the University of Connecticut has sparked controversy among students and faculty at the school, where a series of alcohol-related problems over the past several months has caused administrators to review the existing policy.

A student-faculty committee was formed this fall to determine whether there is a serious problem with alcohol abuse on campus, to compare the university with other schools, and to propose solutions to the problem.

Committee members said this week that they are not seriously considering enforcing a dry campus policy. Committee Chair Ray A. Palmer said that a policy banning alcohol might reduce consumption, but would create a major enforcement problem.

"I think that the concept of a dry campus turns our residence hall staff into police and creates even more of a barrier between the students and the staff," Palmer said. "Certainly recommending a dry campus is an option, but I would consider it a last resort."

Palmer said a better solution would be stricter enforcement of the present policy, which states that students must be 21 to drink, and then only in their rooms. The policy has not been reviewed since the Connecticut drinking age was raised to 21 five years ago, he said.

The committee is planning to present a report by the end of the spring semester, said member J. Lynn Stanley, director of nursing at the university infirmary. After the report is completed, the vice president for student affairs will review it and make a policy decision, Stanley said.

Next year's student handbook will omit the existing policy, and a supplement to the book will be distributed to students when a final decision has been made.

The concern over the existing policy was prompted by several incidents of vandalism last spring, which occurred during a university-wide celebration after the school won the NIT men's basketball championship.

Stanley said that for about three years she has been keeping track of the number of students admitted to the infirmary with alcohol-related illnesses or injuries.

"I see that we continue to have a significant number of students who get into trouble because of their drinking, but I don't know if you could say that alcohol in general is a problem," she said.

Stanley said that the most students are admitted on Thursday through Saturday nights. The academic week at the University ends on Thursdays.

Director of Public Relations Karen Grava Williams said that she thinks the university's reputation as a top party school is false. She added that the committee's decision will not be affected by the school's reputation.

"The problem is no worse or better than any other campus situation, but it does need to be addressed. It is a national problem," Williams said.

"The students understand that by and large alcohol problems abound and that something needs to be done," Williams said.

But other committee members said that the possibility of a dry campus policy drew strong negative reactions from students.

Committee member Judith F. Preston, the coordinator of Greek life at the university, said that students have the misconception that a decision has already been made to create a dry campus policy. But the committee has not yet reached any conclusions.

"I am just hoping that our students will under stand what we're trying to do," she said.

Stanley said that although students oppose a ban on alcohol, many favor tighter control.

Students feel that "alcohol is something that is a part of the college experience," Palmer said.

Senior James F. Amfpacher, the editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper, said that a recent student poll showed that students opposed a dry campus by a ratio of nine to one. The newspaper has editorialized against an alcohol ban.

"I just think that if there's really a problem, just telling students they can't have it isn't going to eliminate it. The real problem is enforcement of the current policy," he said.

Amfpacher said the newspaper gets about five to seven letters a week complaining about a possible dry campus.

"I think the kids that want to drink would still get their alcohol from off campus," he said.

But owners of one popular bar outside campus said that a change in the school's policy will not affect their stance toward the legal drinking age.

"We're doing a good job. We're serving the right people, and a dry campus won't really affect our business at all," said one of the owners of Ted's Restaurant.

He said that because Ted's checks IDs strictly at the door, the bar is not a source of alcohol for under-age students.

"Kids are going to try to get away with whatever they can," he said, citing the discovery last year of a ring of false ID production on campus.