University to tighten up on drinking

It has been dubbed "The World's Greatest College Weekend." However, students caught drinking during Little 500 weekend could face different penalties than they would during a normal week.\nDifferences in how alcohol violations will be combated will be occurring both on and off campus. Students who are arrested by the Bloomington Police Department this weekend will have their names referred to the University. This procedure is not in effect during the rest of the school year.\n"On a regular weekend, citations that involve arrests with alcohol do not come to the attention of the dean's office," Richard McKaig, dean of students said. \nMcKaig said the procedure has been in effect for several years. The procedures were adopted to allow the University to send a message that they are aware of the fact that off-campus activities during Little 500 week revolve around an on-campus event. \nAn increased number of visitors to Bloomington is another reason for the policy changes.\n"There is a heightened sense of concern due to the number of visitors in town," McKaig said. \nThe Monroe County Prosecutor's Office will also enact a special policy for Little 500 weekend. The Saturday alcohol class, which is normally eight hours long, will be cut to four hours in length. Violators will also have to work road crew for four hours on Sunday.\nAccording to a press release from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, persons arrested before 4 a.m. Sunday will have a court appearance at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Anyone arrested after that time will appear in front of the court at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, April 22.\nOffenders charged with alcohol-related misdemeanors will have to pay a fee of $305 at their hearing. \nIn addition to being criminally prosecuted, students whose names are referred to the dean's office will have to face the campus judicial board. Penalties doled out by the judicial board for off-campus violations during Little 500 week will be judged by the same standards as on-campus violations during the rest of the school year. \nDepending on the seriousness of a violation, penalties can range anywhere from probation to suspension. In extreme cases such as assault, McKaig said expulsion is possible. \nIndiana Excise officers will be increasing their presence off-campus this week. Meanwhile, IUPD will beef up its numbers on-campus.\n"(The increased presence) will be mainly because of specific events such as concerts, dances, the trike race (Mini-500) and the men's and women's races," said IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger. "We need to keep vehicular and pedestrian traffic moving as smoothly as possible."\nMinger said IUPD does not see an increase in the number of on-campus arrests that it makes during Little 500 week.\n"People are less likely to become inebriated and underage drink when there are a lot of uniformed police around," Minger said.\nThe Student Activities Office will be visiting sponsored events throughout the greek system to make sure there is no alcohol present. \nIUSA President Bill Gray is concerned that members of greek houses are at a disadvantage because they could be held responsible for the actions of non-members who are visiting a chapter.\n"If someone who is not in a fraternity sneaks in a beer, then that fraternity could be held responsible," Gray, a sophomore, said. "Even if greeks follow rules, there's a lot of ways for them to get in trouble, and that's not right."\nJunior John Schurger, who is on the Campus-Community Commission on Alcohol, said he is upset that the policy changes for Little 500 have not been more publicized.\n"They need to let students know that there will be different sanctions," Schurger said. "It's going to make me think twice about going out on Little Five weekend"