Drinking survey indicates changes in campus climate


Vol. 18, No. 13	Dec. 3, 1998

Drinking survey indicates changes in campus climate

More students at the University of Delaware are choosing to abstain from drinking altogether and fewer are drinking to get drunk, but among those students who do drink, the desirability of getting drunk appears to be increasing, a recent survey shows.

The statistics, collected when UD was only six months into its recent efforts to curb binge drinking, don't tell the entire story, said John Bishop, assistant vice president for student life, who chairs the Matter of Degree program on campus, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the AMA.

"The data indicates that we are moving in the right direction and that's encouraging," Bishop said. "There is clearly more for us to do, but the actions we have taken and the results we have obtained from the Matter of Degree program are probably more noteworthy than the survey," Bishop said.

Signs of progress include reduction of vandalism in residence halls, more upperclass student requests to live on campus, a rating system for fraternities and anti-binge drinking programs to be implemented in area high schools, he said.

The number of students who drive after having five or more drinks has been cut almost in half and the secondary effects of binge drinking-violence, vandalism and vomit-appear to have lessened slightly for those who report being bothered by such behavior. The consequences of alcohol-related problems among students who drink remain about the same.

The survey, administered by the Harvard School of Public Health, collects data nationally to assess student attitudes and behaviors in regard to alcohol.

The original 1993 baseline survey was conducted prior to UD's involvement with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and its program to curb binge drinking on college campuses. A second set of data, collected in 1997, was part of UD's planning process to initiate alcohol reforms funded by a $700,000 grant from the foundation. The 1998 figures are the first to be collected since new alcohol policies have been implemented.

"The data supports the theory that there has been an impact," UD President David P. Roselle said. "I look forward to the further acceptance of the notion that all persons must be responsible for their behavior and fair to others."

According to the 1998 figures, 15.7 percent of UD students abstain from using alcohol, as opposed to 10.6 percent in 1997 and 6 percent in 1993. Thirty-eight percent of students surveyed said they did not binge drink in high school or college, compared to 33.9 percent in 1997 and 30.6 percent in 1993.

Among UD students who did drink in the past year, 67.5 percent said they drank to get drunk, a higher figure than the 63.7 percent in 1997 and 55.6 percent in 1993. These figures are higher than the national average.

Among the reforms and changes undertaken at UD and some of the results include:

Increased surveillance of student drinking by staff, including harsher penalties, stiffer fines and a three-strikes-and-you're-out (suspended) policy for alcohol policy violations, and a more efficient student judiciary system. As a result, between academic years 1996-97 and 1997-98, cases of alcohol violations increased from 655 to 857, disruptive conduct cases increased from 325 to 733, and disciplinary probation sanctions rose from 738 to 1,508.
Parental notification of violations of the campus alcohol policy. Parental response has been overwhelmingly favorable.
An increase in the number of upperclass students living in dorms. Contrary to fears that the numbers of upperclass students in the dorms would decrease as the alcohol sanctions increased, the number of upperclass students applying for on-campus housing increased by 19 percent over the previous year.
A reduction in vandalism in residence halls. Overall charges for vandalism repairs declined by 44.4 percent in academic year 1997-98, compared to the year before.
A decrease from 20 to 13 investigations of cases of alleged sexual assault in the city of Newark, based on information as of Oct. 1 1998.
A five-star rating system that requires fraternities and sororities to maintain academic and social standings in order to participate in fall rush and take in new freshmen members. No fraternities were allowed to participate in fall rush in 1997 and fraternity GPAs rose to exceed the all-male GPA for the first time. In fall 1998, half of UD's fraternities qualified to participate in freshman rush.
Outreach programs for secondary schools that are primary feeders to the University. A task force of University, community and secondary school leaders, called the University/Schools Alliance, is now meeting to plan ways to combat underage drinking.
Distribution of more than $60,000 to various student groups and administrative units for nonalcoholic programming in 1997-98 and a $20,000 allocation to the Delaware Undergraduate Student Congress (DUSC), the Resident Student Association and the Greek Council for similar purposes in 1998.

Support for UD's efforts has come from the surrounding community in many forms. U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden's "Alcohol Code of Principles" for colleges and universities, based on the UD initiatives, was passed by the U.S. Senate; the Delaware General Assembly has passed laws that govern "last call" practices and require alcohol license applicants to advertise their intent in at least two community newspapers; the Newark City Council has required deed-restrictions on the three most recent construction projects for retail space on Main Street that prohibit alcohol from ever being sold at these locations; and community newspapers have offered strong editorial endorsements of all these efforts by UD and the community.

-Beth Thomas