Posted on 12/01/2004 5:42:02 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
Drinking will be banned at University of Oklahoma fraternities and residence halls under new policies announced Wednesday, two months after a 19-year-old student died of alcohol poisoning.
University of Oklahoma President David Boren said the rules will go into effect Jan. 18 at the start of the new semester. Three violations will end in a student's suspension for one semester.
The university also will set up a hot line for students to report violations, and will expand alcohol education programs.
Drinking is already prohibited at sororities.
Boren will present the policies to the Board of Regents Monday for approval. Regents have been involved in creating the plan and support it.
"These policies send a strong signal that alcohol abuse will not be tolerated at the University of Oklahoma," Boren said.
Citing studies from the National Institutes of Health and the Harvard School of Public Health, Boren said limiting access to alcohol on campus should lessen binge drinking by at least 75 percent.
"I feel that it is my responsibility to do everything I can to protect the health and safety of students," he said. "I could not turn my back on the statistics."
Student Blake Hammontree died Sept. 30 after a Sigma Chi fraternity party. He had a blood-alcohol content more than five times the legal limit. The frat has since been shut down.
Police are still investigating the death and several fraternity members have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury. One student, a sophomore, has been charged with furnishing alcohol to another minor at the party.
"The investigation continues and other charges are anticipated," said Cleveland County District Attorney Tim Kuykendall.
Similar recent incidents have been reported at campuses, including Colorado State, where student Samantha Spady had consumed as many as 40 drinks when she was found dead at a fraternity house in September.
Also this fall, Lynn Gordon Bailey Jr. died after he was taken to the mountains near the University of Colorado with fellow Chi Psi fraternity pledges and told not to leave until several bottles of whiskey were finished. Bradley Kemp of the University of Arkansas died after downing a dozen beers and, friends said, possibly other drugs.
As part of the University of Oklahoma's crackdown, Boren said staffers will make unannounced inspections and fraternity leadership and alumni will be asked to make sure the drinking ban is being followed.
Freshman Angel Rivera was skeptical of the administration's plan. "I don't think it's going to stop it," Rivera said. "If you want to drink you'll find a way."
thoughts?
I think there will be a whole lot of one term suspensions. Just wondering what will happen when a football or basketball player get caught?
Oh yea this will work...not
heeheee like "banning" will stop the kids from drinking, what a bunch of buffoons, why not look at WHY the kids are drinking, too much free time, stress, ???? Someone here in Boston died at a frat party from drinking and the school "banned" drinking, lmao, now the kids go off campus, drink themselves into oblivion, still party, still get into trouble, nothing changed except oh yeah, they weren't drinking on campus lmao
Right. They won't drink while they're not having sex.
No drinking at Fraternities? That's like no meat on a hamburger.
They should enforce the laws already on the books, but instead, they make new laws.
Once again, all the kids are kept after class because of the actions of one. This juvenile policy is central to how we live as a nation today.
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Right. They won't drink while they're not having sex.
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Think of all the time they will have to study, unless they are masturbating.
My college was also a dry campus.
Did that stop me? Not on your life.
In other news: the UO administration decided to suspend the change of seasons and abolish gravity.
True, but this new law also makes it against the law to commit a crime. :^)
Exactly. The idiocy of one juvenile college student punishes the whole student body.
The nanny state.
What do you expect out of leftist college administrators? Won't stop it. People will find other ways to get alcohol. They can do what they did during Prohibition.
Youngsters, suddenly unshackled from their parents, are being told by Liberal Academia that they are totally free to be or do whatever they want. And the Institutions will not only allow, encourage, and facilitate any and all perversions and/or lifestyle, but will quash any attempt by those who respect values who want to also be heard.
As long as there has been colleges, there has been college-age drinking. Teach your kids some friggin' sense!
Gracie Allen: My brother Willie ... the psychiatrist worked and worked to get to the bottom of his drinking, and finally he found out my Willie's problem.
George Burns: What was it?
Gracie: He likes to drink.
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