Alcohol violations persist on campus
Scott Kozuch
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: News
During the 2007-2008 school year, nine Point Park University students were deemed so drunk they needed medical assistance. This year, Drug and Alcohol Education statistics show that number has been reduced to six.
The dangers of drinking are apparent when looking at these numbers of hospital visits due to intoxication. During the fall semester alone, five students had to be taken to the hospital, all freshmen, compared to four students last fall.
So far, only one student this spring has been transported to the hospital because of alcohol abuse.
"Alcohol is a drug and people don't realize that," Joshua Young, coordinator of the alcohol peer educators, said.
Young meets with students who have violated liquor law policies after they have gone through the judicial review process. He tries to get an understanding of the student's motivation for drinking to assess what kind of perception the student has on alcohol.
"There's no 'You've done wrong,'" Young said. "We talk about the reasons why they drink. Some don't know."
Violators are first directed to the Office of Judicial Affairs, directed by Amy Cooper. This meeting involves a discussion of the charges against the student and gives the student a chance to explain their story. Judicial Affairs then determines the punishment but tries to maintain a focus on student safety and health.
"We want to save them from heartache in the end," Cooper, who has experienced many alcohol-related accidents, said. "No one sets out, 'I'm gonna die tonight,' or 'I'll have to talk to my friend's family'" about a tragedy.
Bryce Pfeuffer, 20, thinks freshmen tend to pick up the most violations out of an ignorance of the college lifestyle.
"Just being away from home, not having to check in with parents," said the sophomore education major. "There's no rules, just on your own."
For the past two school years, the lobbies of Academic and Lawrence halls have been the areas where the most alcohol violations occurred. While this is not indicative of the number of people reported, it shows a common trend.
The dangers of drinking are apparent when looking at these numbers of hospital visits due to intoxication. During the fall semester alone, five students had to be taken to the hospital, all freshmen, compared to four students last fall.
So far, only one student this spring has been transported to the hospital because of alcohol abuse.
"Alcohol is a drug and people don't realize that," Joshua Young, coordinator of the alcohol peer educators, said.
Young meets with students who have violated liquor law policies after they have gone through the judicial review process. He tries to get an understanding of the student's motivation for drinking to assess what kind of perception the student has on alcohol.
"There's no 'You've done wrong,'" Young said. "We talk about the reasons why they drink. Some don't know."
Violators are first directed to the Office of Judicial Affairs, directed by Amy Cooper. This meeting involves a discussion of the charges against the student and gives the student a chance to explain their story. Judicial Affairs then determines the punishment but tries to maintain a focus on student safety and health.
"We want to save them from heartache in the end," Cooper, who has experienced many alcohol-related accidents, said. "No one sets out, 'I'm gonna die tonight,' or 'I'll have to talk to my friend's family'" about a tragedy.
Bryce Pfeuffer, 20, thinks freshmen tend to pick up the most violations out of an ignorance of the college lifestyle.
"Just being away from home, not having to check in with parents," said the sophomore education major. "There's no rules, just on your own."
For the past two school years, the lobbies of Academic and Lawrence halls have been the areas where the most alcohol violations occurred. While this is not indicative of the number of people reported, it shows a common trend.
Be the first to comment on this story