Rice University alcohol policy review: spring 2011

By Ryan Gupta     1/20/11 6:00pm

The Rice University alcohol policy and the future of its enforcement seems to be in question after a semester of unparalleled alcohol abuse this past fall. Something needs to be done, and ultimately it falls on everyone from students to staff to get together and act appropriately. Drastic action could jeopardize the essence of this university, but lack of response by students and administrators could result in unprecedented tragedy. This is the time to take notice, react and respond to a university issue that has the rare distinction of being universally relevant. This series of letters represents the collectivity of the burden and the numerous components that this crisis entails.

Dear administration,

Work hard, play hard. That's what you told me this place was about when I was a senior in high school, and up to now, you've kept your promise. Rice has arguably the best academic-party balance in the country. The prestigious degree at the end of the four years means as much as the incredible four years we spent earning that degree. Coming from Rice, we are smarter and have more fun than our peers at other universities. That's what makes Rice special.

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I am not imploring you to not drasticaly alter the current alcohol policy at status quo because it is in the best short-term and long-term interest of the university. If Rice's alcohol policy changes, or its enforcement is altered significantly to create a less-lenient drinking culture, the impacts will be devastating.

In the short term, drinking will move predominantly off campus. This move leaves students much more vulnerable to crime and Houston Police run-ins than if we were contained to campus once we started partying as is the case now. Furthermore, drunk driving, a problem that is currently a virtual non-factor at Rice, would undoubtedly escalate. In cases of alcohol abuse on campus, students would simply not feel comfortable calling EMS. Given the option to suck it up and deal with the excess alcohol or call for help and risk being fined or arrested, it seems unlikely that EMS will receive the same volume of calls it does now.

The long-term implications are even more devastating. As it becomes apparent that alcohol will not be tolerated openly on campus, students will become less enamored with their on-campus lodging. Over ?the course of a few years, the 80 percent of students who live on campus will steadily decrease. Ultimately this loss equals lost revenue for Housing and Dining, a loss that is especially troublesome after taking into account the recent large housing additions in the form of Duncan and McMurtry Colleges. Furthermore, the exodus of students from on-campus housing will undermine the crux of the residential college system. Even worse, upperclassmen-lowerclassmen divide would grow steadily as on-campus housing becomes predominantly freshmen-filled.

As the residential college system weakens and the presence of on-campus partying decreases, the appeal of Rice to prospective students will quickly diminish as it picks up an "all work, no play" reputation. As prospective students begin to shun Rice, the rankings of our prestigious university will begin an inevitable fall. Alumni, angry about the new alcohol policy and infuriated about the diminishing ranking of their alma mater, would quickly begin pulling their donations to the university.

Sound a little too extreme? Is it possible that the university is affected on such a large-scale by such a relatively small change? The answer is a resounding yes. The only assumption I have made is that the establishment of a new alcohol policy would limit the consumption and possession of alcohol on campus. The drastic results are merely a logical progression of this hypothetical policy. The key point is that this change would affect drinkers and non-drinkers, graduate students and undergraduate students, staff and faculty equally. If the betterment of Rice is in your best interest, then a revised alcohol policy is not.

It is imperative that, as Rice arrives at these crossroads, we make an informed and collective decision. While the recent onset of excessive drinking requires attention, the matter should be addressed in specific ways; everything from increased O-Week alcohol education to imposing party guidelines (such as posting alcohol content of punch on the front of the coolers). This is college, and students will drink. The only question is whether you want your students to do it in the safe confines of the hedges where an overarching culture of care is present.

Dear RUPD,

As a student body, we are fortunate to have a department dedicated to preserving our safety and well-being; however, over the past semester or so, I hold the opinion that RUPD has become less nurturing and more aggressive. My expectation is that RUPD maintains the rules and policies of the university with reason and consistency.

In requesting that RUPD use reason, I simply mean that RUPD officers should not aggressively seek to dole out violations, but only act when necessary, such as in cases of public disturbances. RUPD should not attempt to actively seek out underage drinkers, because this shifts RUPD's role from one that keeps students safe to one that serves as a strict disciplinarian. I implore that you focus on law enforcement in sit-?uations that are actually dangerous, ?as opposed to singling out individuals who may have broken policy but are not endangering themselves or anyone else around them. If there is no need to enter a suite or a room, it should not be done.

RUPD entering a suite, unprovoked confiscating alcohol and disallowing students to sleep in the common room are all actions I personally experienced on Jan. 14 at Duncan College. To make matters worse, the RUPD presence that evening was triggered by EMS calls - something we were promised would not happen. This sort of action simply undermines students' respect for RUPD.

Another troubling aspect is that RUPD lacks consistency. An RUPD officer's action when seeing an intoxicated minor can range from demanding identification and issuing public intoxication violations to amicably ?offering a ride back to the student's college. As students, should we feel comfortable approaching an officer or should we turn the other direction? Should we ask for a ride back to our college if we need one or should we keep our heads down and try to not attract attention? Perhaps it's the influx of new officers or a lack of standardized protocol. Either way, the student body would appreciate a firmer outline of RUPD's actions.

RUPD had the most effective working relationship with students when they intervened in critical situations, but remained on the sidelines when it was most appropriate. I certainly hope that the mutual respect is soon restored between students and RUPD.

Dear students,

Pull it together. Maybe the freshman class has been crazier than in past years, maybe the Four Lokos were as loco as advertised, or maybe James Tour's organic chemistry class was just that stressful. But regardless, the amount of irresponsible drinking this past semester was unacceptable. EMS calls have increased two fold (as have transport of students to local hospitals) and the necessity for RUPD involvement has also gone up; the alcohol policy crackdowns that RUPD and the administration would like to impose are a byproduct of our carelessness. And while an alcohol policy revision would be disastrous for this university, it is understandable why the review is being contemplated.

When your awkward Owl Days prospie asks you what's so great about Rice, nine times out of 10, your answer will in?clude a discussion about the residential colleges (and their likeliness to Hogwarts). The glamour of the residential colleges is that you have the unique opportunity to live, study and party with your friends over your four years at Rice. This system has proved its worth through history by providing an environment in which students go to and return from parties together, ensuring that students are not forced to care for themselves when drunk. This, in addition to the general culture of care and responsibility at Rice, has allowed the administration to provide one of the most lax alcohol policies among American universities. Up until now.

As it stands, we're in danger of ruining it for ourselves, and if we can't quickly prove that we deserve the current policy, it will be altered. And don't underestimate how much that sort of action will change Rice both today and tomorrow.

Make good decisions and help those around you make good decisions. Rice is defined by this unique willingness to help those around ?us; reflect this philosophy on your Friday and Saturday nights.

Rice also prides itself on student leadership and inititative. We have an entire judicial system established to deal with problems that arise during parties, so don't hesitate in contacting the chief justice if necessary.

Finally, try not to be the guy that leaves his dinner in the stairwell doorway. The fact that you killed that handle is suddenly a lot less impressive once your face is in a toilet bowl. There is no judgment passed in becoming too intoxicated; a lot of us have been there before. But I am now emphasizing a new concept: By drinking too much and requiring the care of EMS or the attention of RUPD, you are no longer just ruining your night, but potentially ruining the future nights of every single undergraduate to pass through this university. If you don't act responsibly for yourself, do it for the rest of us; otherwise the Harvard of the South may quickly become the new University of Chicago.

Sincerely,

Ryan Gupta

Baker College sophomore

Thresher opinions editor

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