2008 Woodie Awards
No More Beer Pong
FAU updates its alcohol policies
By: Amanda Leth, Staff Reporter
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Current Issue
Before you paint your face red and blue for football season, you might want to take some time to read FAU's 10-page alcohol policy, which was updated in May.
This is the policy that officially prohibits students from drinking hard liquor and participating in drinking games like beer pong at campus events - which includes football games.
The updated policy doesn't incorporate any new rules, but administrators say the enforcement of the rules will be a lot stricter this year. (Scroll down for more rules you should know.)
"There aren't any new rules in the policy," says Terry Mena, associate dean of students for the Boca campus. "The only real major change that occurred was the clarification and strengthening of the language so that the rules are crystal clear."
The updated rules, outlined in the university policy, state: "The university condemns any act related to the consumption of alcohol that impairs, interferes, or endangers the safety or enjoyment of others."
According to Mena, the changes to the policy happened because FAU wants to be prepared for any problems that may come with the new stadium and residence halls, expected in 2010.
"We're just preparing for the university to change," Mena says. "There will be a new stadium, more residence halls, and these things need to be considered."
The policy, however, doesn't affect students who are living on-campus, since student residences are considered to be private living quarters and therefore subject to another set of alcohol policies, according to the 2008 Housing Guidebook.
"These new rules are mainly for football games and other campus events," Director of University Housing Jill Eckardt says, adding that they will be cracking down on underage drinking this year.
But for the most part, students aren't expecting to change their plans.
"They're trying to stop the problems before they occur, and that's understandable," says senior Reggie Jackson. "There definitely should be some regulation, but students should be able to have a drink or two to enjoy the game."
Jackson, who works for FAU's Student Development and Activities department, also says that students will bring alcohol to events regardless of the rules.
A quick refresher course
Here are a few rules from the official FAU alcohol policy:
•Alcoholic beverages are only allowed to be served for a four hour period, although there's no official limit to how much you can drink during those four hours.
•Alcoholic beverages must be served in individual serving sizes. Unfortunately, the serving size doesn't vary by the individual. No kegs no matter how big you are.
•Only beer and wine are allowed - leave the vodka at home.
•No drinking games are allowed - so leave your pingpong paddles and deck of cards behind.
This is the policy that officially prohibits students from drinking hard liquor and participating in drinking games like beer pong at campus events - which includes football games.
The updated policy doesn't incorporate any new rules, but administrators say the enforcement of the rules will be a lot stricter this year. (Scroll down for more rules you should know.)
"There aren't any new rules in the policy," says Terry Mena, associate dean of students for the Boca campus. "The only real major change that occurred was the clarification and strengthening of the language so that the rules are crystal clear."
The updated rules, outlined in the university policy, state: "The university condemns any act related to the consumption of alcohol that impairs, interferes, or endangers the safety or enjoyment of others."
According to Mena, the changes to the policy happened because FAU wants to be prepared for any problems that may come with the new stadium and residence halls, expected in 2010.
"We're just preparing for the university to change," Mena says. "There will be a new stadium, more residence halls, and these things need to be considered."
The policy, however, doesn't affect students who are living on-campus, since student residences are considered to be private living quarters and therefore subject to another set of alcohol policies, according to the 2008 Housing Guidebook.
"These new rules are mainly for football games and other campus events," Director of University Housing Jill Eckardt says, adding that they will be cracking down on underage drinking this year.
But for the most part, students aren't expecting to change their plans.
"They're trying to stop the problems before they occur, and that's understandable," says senior Reggie Jackson. "There definitely should be some regulation, but students should be able to have a drink or two to enjoy the game."
Jackson, who works for FAU's Student Development and Activities department, also says that students will bring alcohol to events regardless of the rules.
A quick refresher course
Here are a few rules from the official FAU alcohol policy:
•Alcoholic beverages are only allowed to be served for a four hour period, although there's no official limit to how much you can drink during those four hours.
•Alcoholic beverages must be served in individual serving sizes. Unfortunately, the serving size doesn't vary by the individual. No kegs no matter how big you are.
•Only beer and wine are allowed - leave the vodka at home.
•No drinking games are allowed - so leave your pingpong paddles and deck of cards behind.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Student
posted 9/04/08 @ 1:21 AM EST
How was the alcohol policy enforced last year? If there was a "strengthening of the language so that the rules are crystal clear," how were they vague before? And if they were vague before, how exactly did it impact student safety?
Dan
posted 9/08/08 @ 11:10 AM EST
I can pay charity to FAU's prohibition of "party balls" and "kegs", but rules against liquor and/or "games" are so ridiculous and over-reaching that I feel they are doomed to fail. (Continued…)
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