Rain is not the only thing that has made Mississippi State a wet campus recently.
In September, university officials changed one section of the Student Code of Conduct concerning alcohol to allow lawful behavior on campus. The section previously read that the university prohibited any possession, consumption or use of alcohol, beer and wine within the campus boundaries. An amendment made Sept. 20 changed the policy to prohibit only the “unlawful” sale, possession, consumption, use or distribution on campus.
Before the change, people on campus who were in possession of alcohol could be referred to the dean of students, even if they were over the legal drinking age. Dean of Students Mike White said he proposed the amendment to give students more freedom and responsibility.
“In the state of Mississippi, if you are over 21 and in an area where the city and county allows alcohol, it is not unlawful,” White said. “This puts the responsibility where it should be-on the person who decides to drink.”
Oktibbeha County permits possession and consumption of “alcoholic beverages” which are defined by the State of Mississippi as containing more than 5 percent alcohol by volume. The majority of campus lies within the county.
The City of Starkville also allows these alcoholic beverages, as well as beer and light wines that have less than 5 percent alcohol by volume. A few areas along the east border of campus, including Fraternity Row, fall into the city limits.
“Alcohol, beer and light wines are all lawful in city limits,” White said. “Areas within the county are legal for alcohol and unlawful for beer and wine. That’s state law.”
Vice president for Student Affairs Bill Kibler presented the change to the university’s Executive Council. He said council members supported it because they wanted to see the university’s policy reflect the action on campus.
White and Kibler both noted that on game days the previous policy could not be enforced while people were tailgating.
“Now we are able to say to students and anyone else on campus that unlawful behavior is what we prohibit,” Kibler said. “The university should not have any policy that, as it is written, cannot be enforced. Without the word ‘unlawful,’ our policy could not be enforced.”
“It changes very little for students, because the majority of them are under 21,” Kibler added.
Unlawful behaviors related to alcohol that will still be enforced by the university police include minor in possession, public intoxication, DUI and contributing to a minor.
“If you are under 21 and in possession anywhere on campus you are subject to arrest and will be referred to my office in violation of the student code of conduct,” White said.
Individual facilities, like athletic facilities and residence halls, have specific rules regarding the possession of alcohol.
Their policies will not change with the re-wording of the code of conduct, White said.
Kibler stressed that alcohol will not be permitted in residence halls.
Before joining the MSU administrators, Kibler was the vice president for student affairs at Texas A & M. The policy there prohibits possession and consumption on campus, but lists exceptions for situations like tailgating, he said.
“These are two different approaches to the same problem,” Kibler said. “That could be the direction we go in if this policy is not as effective as we want it to be, but our policy may prove to be a simpler alternative than theirs.”
Even with policy changes, the university is still concerned about the risk of alcohol abuse on campus.
“We are extremely concerned about the abuse of alcohol,” White said. “My personal advice would be not to drink, but if you are 21 years old and drink lawfully and respectfully, there is no reason for the university to say you cannot.”
Students found guilty of alcohol policy infractions and behavioral offenses are required to complete an alcohol education program. Also, the Center for Alcohol and Drug Education provides services and public programs to counter alcohol abuse on campus.