OU becoming a dry campus

I figured this would happen!

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"Regents pass Boren's dry campus policy


By Mick Hinton
The Oklahoman

NORMAN - University of Oklahoma regents officially approved a student alcohol policy recommended by President David Boren, who announced last week he wanted all fraternities and residence halls to be "dry."
The policy grew out of the alcohol poisoning death of Blake Hammontree, 19, a pledge to Sigma Chi fraternity.

A key feature of the policy is a three-strikes regulation that says students caught with a third alcohol violation can be suspended for a semester. Parents will be notified when any violations occur, according to the policy. Students also will be required to undergo further alcohol education and in some instances perform community service.

Fraternities and other student groups will be allowed to have parties where alcohol is served, but they cannot be held in housing units. Students will be required to show their identifications at those parties, and underage students will not be allowed to drink, according to the policy.

The parties will be restricted to Friday and Saturday nights, rather than those now held also on Thursdays and sometimes on Wednesdays.

Students who arrive at the parties in private vehicles will be required to check car keys at the door, the policy states.

Boren said he hopes no future president of OU has to sit down with parents or siblings because a student dies from alcohol poisoning.

"I just don't want to ever have to go through this again," he said.

Regents did not discuss the policy. "

[Midtowner]

Lousy Democrats...

I hate it when they try to regulate what 21+ year olds do in their own homes.

This will just move such drinking activities to off-campus locations. It won't change the fact that they still occur. UCO did a similar thing after an ATO pledge was run over by an ATO brother on a camping trip whilst passed out in the middle of the road -- wasn't killed, but had his hip shattered. UCO reacted by going dry.

I know that group and others continued to drink despite that rule.

The University finally wised up and created a risk reduction strategy where they allowed alcohol only when there was a licensed, self-insured 3rd party vendor (and you have to go through an applications process). This way, our formal can have a cash bar.

[mranderson]

If it prolongs one life (I do not use the term "save a life"), then the ban is worth it.

[Midtowner]

Originally Posted by mranderson

If it prolongs one life (I do not use the term "save a life"), then the ban is worth it.

By your moral standard, alcohol should be illegal everywhere.

I wonder if Boren has alcohol in his house on campus?

I wonder if there will be alcohol at donor/alumni receptions?

10 bucks says he does and there is.

Kids and adults die of alcohol poisoning on and off campus. There are 1800 college students per year killed in alcohol related incedents. Some from drunk driving, some from alcohol poisoning. So one dies at a fraternity house at OU, he's the son of a District Judge out on the north border, we take away the rights of the 30,000 students that weren't abusing the policy?

The bottom line is that 21 is the legal age to drink. Once you reach that age, you are supposed to be mature enough to make that choice. Some people violate the law and should be held accountable. Do you think that they give a darn what school policy is when they violate the law of Oklahoma? I just don't think Boren is being very realistic here. I do think he's punishing a lot of responsible 21+ year olds.

[mranderson]

Originally Posted by Midtowner

By your moral standard, alcohol should be illegal everywhere.

I wonder if Boren has alcohol in his house on campus?

I wonder if there will be alcohol at donor/alumni receptions?

10 bucks says he does and there is.

Kids and adults die of alcohol poisoning on and off campus. There are 1800 college students per year killed in alcohol related incedents. Some from drunk driving, some from alcohol poisoning. So one dies at a fraternity house at OU, he's the son of a District Judge out on the north border, we take away the rights of the 30,000 students that weren't abusing the policy?

The bottom line is that 21 is the legal age to drink. Once you reach that age, you are supposed to be mature enough to make that choice. Some people violate the law and should be held accountable. Do you think that they give a darn what school policy is when they violate the law of Oklahoma? I just don't think Boren is being very realistic here. I do think he's punishing a lot of responsible 21+ year olds.

Not entirely. However, I could live with that. The fewer people that drink alcoholic beverages in public places, the fewer people we have to bury.

[Midtowner]

Originally Posted by mranderson

Not entirely. However, I could live with that. The fewer people that drink alcoholic beverages in public places, the fewer people we have to bury.

Boren's rule doesn't even discuss public places. It discusses the private residences of students that may be over 21 and therefore, legal to drink. So what are you talking about "public places"?

You mean, if I have a glass of wine or two with my meal at a nice restaurant, that should be illegal as well? I use public transportation to and from Bricktown, so I'll have as much as I want so long as I can stumble back to the trolley stop

[TStheThird]

OSU has been dry for several years. Everyone that wants to drink still does, but it does limit the overall consumption quite a bit and it keeps the fraternity house clean, which increases my quality of life.

[Midtowner]

Originally Posted by TStheThird

OSU has been dry for several years. Everyone that wants to drink still does, but it does limit the overall consumption quite a bit and it keeps the fraternity house clean, which increases my quality of life.

Are you in a fraternity at OSU? No?

While I'm not either, my fraternity does have a chapter at OSU. I've been down there several times. They don't drink in the house. However, they most certainly drink outside of the house. No doubt.

Has it limited the consumption? Not a chance. Just changed the venue.

I will give it to them on this: They have an excellent designated driver program.

I agree with you Midtowner. I don't think this new policy will stop anything. It will just move the drinking to the street and in Norman neighborhoods.

Actually though, the law won't hurt 21+ year olds much. Most of the people that live on campus are low classman. After one or two years at OU, people get smart enough to move of campus...it's cheaper. Freshman are required to live on campus.

[Midtowner]

Patrick, you may be correct about the dorms, but the fraternity houses are another story entirely. Many guys stay there for their entire college careers. Our OU chapter, for example has just completed a 1.5 million dollar renovation to their house. It's very nice! If I'm 21+ and told I can't keep alcohol in my own freakin' room, I'm going to have to say that's a little ridiculous.

I think a lot of fraternities will be hurt when guys who want to have a drink every now and then decide to move out en masse.

I pay pretty close attention to what fraternties do across the US. Especially in my organization, I attend all of the national meetings, etc. My guess is that the big money houses at OU (Beta, SAE, etc) will probably purchase alternate real estate to designate as their "party house". The house will not be considered their chapter house and therefore will nto be effected by the campus policies.

This has happened at MANY institutions. I think it's safe to assume that it'll happen at OU. The bottom line is that if kids want to drink, it's going to happen. The way to keep deaths like Hamontree's from happening is education, not prohibition. The rule has been proven MANY times, yet we still do not seem to understand.

The makes sense Midtowner!

[TStheThird]

I am in a fraternity. There is still a lot of alcohol consumption taking place in Stillwater, but it is not what it was in the 90's. Everyone parties of campus and the Strip with all the bars is right on the edge of campus.

The big plus is that the house does not get trashed.

[Midtowner]

Originally Posted by TStheThird

I am in a fraternity. There is still a lot of alcohol consumption taking place in Stillwater, but it is not what it was in the 90's. Everyone parties of campus and the Strip with all the bars is right on the edge of campus.

The big plus is that the house does not get trashed.

Agreed.

I always feel sorry for the guys that live in the 'party house'. As far as keeping the houses in good repair, many national house corporations have mandated dry housing. My particular fraternity almost had something like that pass nationwide a few years ago. However, the active brothers defeated it pretty handily at our national convention.