Violators of Mississippi State University’s zero tolerance policy for alcohol possession are immediately enrolled in mandatory courses offered by the Center for Alcohol and Drug Education at the Joe Frank Sanderson Center in addition to legal fines and/or incarceration. Alcohol violations on campus include minor in possession, open container, public drunkenness, driving under the influence and providing alcohol to a minor.
As stated in MSU bulletins, the persistent myth that alcohol in cups on campus is acceptable is false. Student possession of alcohol on campus is a violation of MSU policy, regardless of the container.
“It’s not as obvious,” said Michael Old, an MSU sophomore who was cited for public drunkenness in a fraternity parking lot January.
Old said he was “kind of wobbling” which led law enforcement to arrest him.
As stated in MSU bulletins, the persistent myth that alcohol in cups on campus is acceptable is false. Student possession of alcohol on campus is a violation of MSU policy, regardless of the container. Alcohol infractions by students are automatically sent to Dean of Students Mike White’s office.
The charges are then explained to the students, who can either admit guilt or request a hearing with the Student Association Judicial Council. If the council finds a student guilty of simple possession or drunkenness, or the student waives the hearing altogether, the student will be enrolled in Bully Choices, a $15 alcohol and drug education program to teach self-awareness, health and the future results of alcoholism.
“If it was the first time, we would put them through the program rather than suspend,” White said. “We treat it educationally.”
CADE assistant director Amy Wooten said the primary objective of the alcohol classes is psycho-educational instruction.
“We’re not here to judge you,” Wooten said. “We’re here to help you.”
Students complete background information and consent forms with CADE. Unless the student chooses otherwise, all personal files remain confidential.
“It stays in this office,” Wooten said.
Even for court use of the files, a student must sign a release form. Students entering the program also complete the Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Tool, a 13-item alcohol assessment instrument.
“It gives indicators of high risk drinking behavior,” Wooten said.
To complete the program, students must score 75 or better in a comprehensive knowledge test.
“If they don’t study, there’s no way they can pass it,” Wooten said of test takers.
Information can be studied at the Sanderson Center or on the program Web site wwwrecsports.msstate.edu/cade.htm.
Testing is offered one time daily and nightly each week.
The test must be retaken continuously until it is passed. The first retake costs another $15. Further tests are $30 each.
“I’ve never seen anybody fail the third test,” Wooten said. “Ninety percent pass the first time.”
She attributes that to White’s reiteration of the program’s importance.
“It has a far-reaching effect,” White said of alcohol infractions. “It may affect what you otherwise could do.”
Old completed the course following his public drunkenness conviction. He said he learned about the effects and consequences of binge drinking and blood alcohol levels while writing papers and losing his Friday afternoons.
“It’s a decent punishment,” Old said. “I don’t want to get caught again.”
Usually, students are placed on campus probation for a year after finishing the lesser of two alcohol programs.
DUI convictions or second-time smaller alcohol infractions will begin a more strenuous program with CADE. The $30 in-depth program consists of the previous requirements, additional written homework assignments and a class contract to meet four consecutive Fridays for two hours each session.
There are about 10-15 people per month-long group, which occurs three times per semester according to Wooten.
If an alcohol offense occurs during the four weeks that a student is attending sessions, that student is pulled from regular group and given one-on-one interactive meetings.
Others may not consider this a complete deterrent.
“Taking a class isn’t necessarily going to change their minds,” Ashley Spell, an MSU freshman living on campus, said of zero tolerance violators. “That all depends on how stubborn a person is.”
“We don’t mandate therapy,” Wooten said. “We mandate a learning experience
in hopes that they gain something individually.”
Upon completion students receive an exit interview and advice for the
future.
“We tell them not to drink,” Wooten says.