Students, staff reflect on drinking policy

Noce said the bigger issue focuses on MU's alcohol policy.

By Jared Grafman

Published Feb. 5, 2010

Many students said the survey results sent out from the Wellness Resource Center generally represent the average MU student.

The Drinking Age Town Hall Meeting took place Jan. 26. During the meeting, WRC Director Kim Dude said the WRC does not send out surveys during periods of expected high drinking, such as spring break and Homecoming.

Sophomore Peer Adviser Amanda Strickland said she is not concerned about the WRC's polling process regarding alcohol.

"They recognize it's going to happen," Strickland said. "Especially whenever they declare it a wet campus during football games."

Freshman Elsen Desir said information about alcohol use at MU, posted by the WRC in residence halls and around campus, gives an accurate image of MU college students.

"I would have to say with my personal experience the statistics around campus do represent the general body of MU students," Desir said. "Although there are many who drink more and less than the average."

Senior Marina Shifrin said the surveys sent by the WRC are, in general, accurate of the typical college student.

"I think it's great that they have this push to have college students be safe, but at the same time it says, '80 percent of college students value family over drinking,' " Shifrin said. "Of course you are going to value family over drinking but when it comes down to the decision that night, it isn't like you have to decide between the two."

Shifrin said results would be more accurate if the survey focused more on condition instead of value questions, such as, "Would a person rather be the sober driver or get into a car with someone who has been drinking?"

Missouri Students Association President Tim Noce, who attended the town hall meeting, said people should focus on the alcohol policy as a whole, instead of the WRC's surveying practices.

"I think the bigger picture was that everyone agreed there was a few problems with the current policies on campus and in Columbia," Noce said. "I think that now that it's out in the open, it brings new light to the policies students have felt strongly about for a long time."

MU alcohol policy is different than the policy enforced outside MU authority.

Shifrin said the MU alcohol policy in the residence halls is successful.

"The way I see it is if students are drinking underage outside the residence halls, they get arrested and they get MIPs," Shifrin said. "If it's taken care of within the residence hall, they get classes on how to make wiser decisions, which sounds cheesy but personally I would rather not have anything on my record and be in trouble with my hall coordinator."

Strickland said there is a more lenient policy on alcohol usage than on other illicit drugs.

"Residents are allowed to stay in the halls after their first alcohol violation," Strickland said. "Whereas they are put on much more strict probation after say a marijuana bust or something."

Noce said from his past experience it is obvious MU is not a dry campus.

"Right now, we have what many consider a dry campus," Noce said. "I think that is obviously not true, from my past experience and I think I can say that a lot of people feel the same way."