Drinking policy to remain dry

A bar located on a college campus filled with students and low-regulated student drinking are some of the things separating other campuses from IU-Bloomington.\nBut regardless of the University's rules that prohibit alcohol on campus, drinking remains a common practice among students everywhere at IU. Although drinking is allowed in certain places on campus, such as 21-and-over housing, certain restaurants, art galleries and other special situations, alcohol is prohibited on campus in most dorms and all fraternities and sororities and even in class. \nAnd despite efforts by University officials to curb the drinking habits of students and protect the "dry" reputation of IU, the problem still exists.\nJunior Rory Keene lived in McNutt Quad his freshman year, where he said his drinking habits were unsuccessfully addressed by the University twice that year. He received two alcohol violations, but he said neither of them taught him anything -- except to be more careful.\n"I just tried not to get caught," he said. "They try to teach you, but I only saw people change for a couple days. Once the weekend rolls around, it's a different story."\nAlthough Keene said he has no problem handling his drinking, he said other people take it too far and thinks it's more of a responsibility issue rather than an alcohol issue. In fact, he said he would personally enjoy having a bar on campus or have administrators loosen alcohol regulations at IU. But for others, he thinks this could pose some problems.\n"Everyone would be open to drink," he said. "There wouldn't be anything to scare them off. People would probably never go to class."\nIU Police Dept. Lt. Jerry Minger wasn't quick to endorse the idea of providing a bar on campus. \n"I would have a hard time arguing that we need to have a bar on campus," he said. "Especially when you think what good could come out of it and what bad could come, it's hard to argue in favor."\nMinger said he believes the student drinking problem is really a matter of irresponsibility rather than alcohol.\n"It's easy to say it's an alcohol problem, but it's usually a maturity problem," he said. "If students drink responsibly, chances are we won't have to get involved."\nKeene said he thinks drinking among college students cannot be stopped and a wet campus accompanied with alcohol consumption training would be the best way to handle the situation.\n"I think it would be a positive effect," he said. "There probably would be a few less kids dying each year."\nDean of Students Richard McKaig didn't completely rule out the suggestion of IU loosening its alcohol policy or creating a bar on campus, but he said there are many factors that prohibit administrators from considering it in the near future.\n"To establish a bar on campus would seem like a dramatic step backwards," he said. "We are a large undergraduate institution primarily with students under 21. This would be against our customs and traditions."\nTo add to the negative effects on campus, McKaig said the establishment of a bar would upset some members of the community and local bar owners, claiming unfair competition.\nKeene, a fan of Kilroy's on Kirkwood Avenue, describes the bar as having "a good atmosphere." He said the convenience of a campus bar would probably entice him to spend more of his nights around campus. When asked to imagine Burger King at the IMU as a bar, with a raise of the eyebrows accompanied by a smirk, he said that he liked the idea.\n"I think it would be pretty cool," he said. "People wouldn't have to worry about getting a ride or anything. You could just walk home."\nAlthough the vision of a bar, possibly at the IMU or somewhere else close to campus, may seem as far from reality as a fairy tale, McKaig isn't going to eliminate the odds.\n"As times change, higher education changes," he said. "I wouldn't rule out the possibility."\n-- Contact staff writer Jess Huffman at jerhuffm@indiana.edu.