Univ. of OK Bans Booze from Frats and Dorms
by Jim Brown
December 8, 2004
(AgapePress) - An alcohol policy researcher is applauding efforts by the University of Oklahoma to control the availability of alcohol on campus.The University of Oklahoma, located in Norman, has approved new policies that ban drinking at fraternities and residence halls. The crackdown comes just two months after a 19-year-old student died of alcohol poisoning following an episode of binge drinking. The new rules take effect at the start of the spring semester, January 18. Alcohol consumption is already prohibited at campus sororities.
Jim Fell, an alcohol-traffic safety expert at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, believes the ban is a good first step, but more could be done. For example, he encourages OU to take the next step, which he says is to engage the community in efforts to curb underage drinking off campus.
"Our experience here with the research on the drinking problem on college campuses ... is that it's really a community-wide problem," Fell shares, "and you can't just solve it by measures on the campus itself." It says it is obvious that students go off campus to consume alcohol -- "and obviously they drink and drive off campus, which leads to a lot of problems," he adds.
As for the new campus policy on alcohol, Fell believes it can be enforced effectively. He expects that many students will be think twice about drinking on campus because they know unannounced inspections will occur.
"But, on the other hand, it has to be demonstrated [to students] that this [new policy] is going to be enforced," he emphasizes. "The students have to know that it's going to be enforced and that their chances of being caught drinking, if they choose to do so on campus, are going to be pretty high -- and that the consequences are going to be severe enough that they don't want to do it."
In addition to his work at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Fell serves on the National Board of Directors for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). He has authored more than 80 scientific publications in the areas of highway safety, alcohol impairment, and human factors research. Prior to joining the Institute, he spent 30 years with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
