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University of Oklahoma Bans Alcohol at Fraternities, Residence Halls in Wake of a Drinking Death
AP ^ | Dec 1, 2004 | Julie E. Bisbee

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."


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Oklahoma
KEYWORDS: alcohol; davidboren; no8keggers
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Now more will be driving home from bars?
1 posted on 12/01/2004 5:42:02 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Now more will be driving home from bars?

My guess is "probably not".
Plenty of bars in walking distance of campus in Norman, OK.

Well, at least there were about a decade ago.
2 posted on 12/01/2004 5:44:08 PM PST by VOA
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To: PhiKapMom

thoughts?


3 posted on 12/01/2004 5:45:33 PM PST by aposiopetic
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

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?


4 posted on 12/01/2004 5:46:37 PM PST by CriticalJ
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

Oh yea this will work...not


5 posted on 12/01/2004 5:47:07 PM PST by skaterboy (Cant wait for tomorrow cause I get better looking everyday)
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To: VOA

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


6 posted on 12/01/2004 5:48:01 PM PST by rockabyebaby (What goes around, comes around!)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

Right. They won't drink while they're not having sex.


7 posted on 12/01/2004 5:48:27 PM PST by Buck W. (How can anyone who works for a living vote democrat?)
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To: aposiopetic

No drinking at Fraternities? That's like no meat on a hamburger.


8 posted on 12/01/2004 5:48:36 PM PST by MagnumRancid
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

They should enforce the laws already on the books, but instead, they make new laws.


9 posted on 12/01/2004 5:49:44 PM PST by BigSkyFreeper (Congratulations President-Re-Elect George W. Bush!)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

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.


10 posted on 12/01/2004 5:49:51 PM PST by JennysCool (A plan is not a litany of complaints)
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To: Buck W.

<<
Right. They won't drink while they're not having sex.
>>
Think of all the time they will have to study, unless they are masturbating.


11 posted on 12/01/2004 5:50:30 PM PST by MagnumRancid
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
I guess my neophyte brothers at OU are deeply disappointed.


12 posted on 12/01/2004 5:51:20 PM PST by rdb3 (LoRdZ of the Gen-X Republican Rebellion -- rdb3 "HiP-hOp FReeper")
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

My college was also a dry campus.

Did that stop me? Not on your life.


13 posted on 12/01/2004 5:51:31 PM PST by Stratman
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

In other news: the UO administration decided to suspend the change of seasons and abolish gravity.


14 posted on 12/01/2004 5:52:32 PM PST by GSlob
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To: BigSkyFreeper

True, but this new law also makes it against the law to commit a crime. :^)


15 posted on 12/01/2004 5:52:55 PM PST by MagnumRancid
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To: JennysCool

Exactly. The idiocy of one juvenile college student punishes the whole student body.


16 posted on 12/01/2004 5:53:05 PM PST by BigSkyFreeper (Congratulations President-Re-Elect George W. Bush!)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

The nanny state.


17 posted on 12/01/2004 5:53:07 PM PST by bwteim (bwteim = Begin With The End In Mind)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

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.


18 posted on 12/01/2004 5:54:47 PM PST by Ptarmigan (Proud rabbit hater and killer)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

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!


19 posted on 12/01/2004 5:55:02 PM PST by digger48
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To: rockabyebaby
why not look at WHY the kids are drinking, too much free time, stress, ????

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.

20 posted on 12/01/2004 5:59:20 PM PST by Oztrich Boy ("Ain't I a stinker?" B Bunny)
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