Students deal with alcohol busts

Many IU freshmen arrive on campus eager and enthusiastic. Unfortunately for some, that enthusiasm might land them in jail.\nMany newcomers might assume local police officials will simply look the other way at underage drinking on a college campus. However, as IU Police Department Capt. Jerry Minger said, "(They) have a zero-tolerance policy for breaking the law."\nIUPD issued alcohol-related citations to 31 students, and another 107 students received citations -- mostly for alcohol offenses -- from the Indiana State Excise Police during the Welcome Week period of Aug. 22 to Aug. 30. While many of these students will be reported to the IU Office of Student Ethics, they will most likely also face charges from the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office. \nAlex, a freshman who would not give his last name, said he started his night drinking with a couple friends at the dorms, where he said he consumed seven double-shots of whiskey before attending an off-campus party where he said he consumed an additional half-dozen beers.\n"On the way back, I dropped my friend off at Wright (Quad)," he said. "On the way back (to Ashton), I got a little tired, sat down in the grass and went to sleep. In front of Teter (Quad)."\nAlex said the next thing he remembers was being transported to Monroe County Jail in a squad car. After spending the morning in jail, Alex said he was released at about 2 p.m.\n"I'm from New York, so I've been drinking for a while and never run into any trouble," he said. "I just drank way too much, and I should not have been outside. I will never drink that much again. Worst-case scenario, if I do, I definitely will stay inside."\nThe penalty for most alcohol offenses is a misdemeanor carrying a sentence of up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. In some cases, underage offenders can have their licenses suspended, even if they were not driving while intoxicated. However, most first-time offenders qualify for Monroe County's Defendant Accountability Program. \nThe program aims to keep offenders out of court and prevent them from having a criminal charge on their records, according to the Monroe County Prosecutor's Web site. Defendants sign an agreement promising to attend an alcohol education class and pay a fine of about $400. Also, they might have to complete road crew work. If the offender does not commit a criminal offense in the next 12 months, the prosecutor will drop the charges.\nPaula Gordon, director of IU's Student Legal Services, said her office has already received a large number of queries from students regarding alcohol-related citations. \nStudent Legal Services offers free, in-person legal counsel for students dealing with the criminal justice system, along with many other legal issues. Students can make an appointment by phone or on the organization's Web site.\n"We'll tell them all the options, from what would happen if they pleaded 'not guilty' and what their chances are of winning," Gordon said. "A lot of these (cases) are winnable, but you end up paying more for an attorney (than for the Defendant Accountability Program)."\nA law student will review the case with the oversight of an attorney before meeting with the students to discuss their options. While more complicated cases are sent to local defense attorneys, Gordon said most students are better off opting into the Defendant Accountability Program. \n"I think the DAP program is fantastic," she said. "Not to have the consequences of losing your license -- that's worthwhile. It's a lot of money, but you pay the money, and you learn a lesson. Whatever your point of view is, you can't be 20 and drink"