Officials warn freshmen about excessive drinking

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. And for every infraction, there is a corresponding punishment. Whether it’s underage consumption in the residence halls or public urination, binge drinking often has consequences.

From the simply embarrassing – like public indecency – to the dangerous, such as assaults and vehicular collisions – IU Police Department Capt. Jerry Minger said the overwhelming majority of incidents involving his department can be attributed, at least in part, to excessive drinking, not merely underage drinking.

Minger also refuted the misconception that officers lurk in the shadows, waiting for unsuspecting students to stumble into their paths. He said most arrests result from blatant disturbances.

“We don’t sneak around,” Minger said. “It’s almost like the person waves a red flag and says, ‘Hey, I’m doing something stupid and illegal.’”

Bloomington Police Department Captain Joe Qualters agreed.

“We recognize the community we live in ... it would be like shooting fish in a barrel,” he said, citing vandalism and public indecency as common inciting incidents. “We always have the discretion as to whether we make an arrest.”

Troublemakers aside, the police will also get involved if a person appears to have alcohol poisoning, Qualters said, listing passing out and incoherence as common signs.

Even if the police are not involved, students can still face University repercussions for alcohol-related behavior.

Dean of Students Dick McKaig said the first disciplinary step is enrollment in the Alternative Alcohol Intervention Program/Students Managing Alcohol Responsibly and Together for assessment and counseling.

Dr. Walt Keller, head of AAIP/SMART said many people attach a stigma to the program.

“A lot of students come here feeling shame or thinking that we’re going to make them feel guilty,” Keller said, adding that their goal is to help students understand the effects alcohol has on them and to drink responsibly.

Extenuating circumstances can result in suspension, even for the initial infraction, McKaig added. These circumstances include significant intoxication (2.0 or higher), harm to another person, damage to IU property, disruption in the dorms and injury to emergency medical technician or other medical personnel.

“If it was serious enough to get suspended, you probably got arrested,” McKaig said.
Alcohol also increases the risk of being victimized, officials said.

McKaig warned that most sexual assaults at IU are acquaintance and date rapes, often involving alcohol. Minger agreed, saying that historically “blitz attacks” are much less common.

Freshmen are at a higher risk, especially during the first few weeks of school, because they are in a strange town with new rules and new people, McKaig said. But they have all the self-confidence of their home environment.

“You have to re-learn those survival skills,” McKaig said. “Anybody who moves to a new community has to go through that phase, no matter where they are in their life.”
Minger agreed.

“One day their parents are looking out for their stuff, for their personal well-being,” Minger said. “The very next day, they’re responsible for all that.”