B.U. Prohibition

While Harvard tightens its alcohol policy, Boston University has already clamped down on drinking with a new policy that severely restricts the distribution and consumption of alcohol throughout the university's undergraduate community.

Underage students at the Back Bay are now prohibited from drinking alcoholic beverages anywhere on campus under the University's new policy. Those caught with alcohol have their goods confiscated, and become immediately subject to disciplinary action.

Alcohol policy violations subject students to a specially developed disciplinary system.

For a first offense, students receive a written warning. For a second violation, students are put on alcohol probation and are required to attend a series of seminars dealing with alcohol awareness and medical aspects of alcohol abuse.

A third offense results in expulsion from student housing and general university probation.

Nine thousand undergraduates currently live in campus housing, according to Christopher Queen, associate dean of students. Four thousand undergraduates reside in off-campus housing.

Officials said B.U. changed its policy in compliance with the new Massachussetts law raising the official drinking age from 20 to 21 and in response to more stringent insurance standards.

The university is also cracking down on fake i.d. cards. Under the new policy, only a valid Massachusetts drivers' licenses or the newly created Mass. liquor purchasing cards will be accepted as proof of age. No out of state i.d.s will be accepted due to the scourge of false identification cards floating around campus, officials said.

Queen emphasized that security guards do not and will not conduct searches of student's personal belongings upon entrance into the residences. "We draw the line on interfering with people's privacy."

Within the dorms themselves, responsibility for alcohol enforcement is charged to the undergraduate resident advisors (RAs). University officials grant the RAs broad discretion in dealing with alcohol problems in their advisory units.

Graduate students assist in smaller brownstone residences that are not as susceptible to alcohol related problems as are the crowded high-rise residences.

A B.U. freshman who did not wish to be identified said "RAs determine what happens in the dorms. If you have a party in your room, you're fine. But once things get out of hand..."

Queen said that students "respect effort to create civilized society in dorms," and are offering "great cooperation" with the administration. He continued that the new policy "is not a celebrated issue on campus."