By Paul A. Anthony, Editor in Chief
The number of students dismissed from the university for drinking has remained steady in recent years, Campus Life officials say, despite a national trend where underage drinking and drug use have skyrocketed.
Thus far, no students have been dismissed for alcohol-related offences this semester, although the university has disciplined several people, said Brian England, director of judicial affairs.
“I kind of think there’s a perception among students that it’s more prevalent than it really is,” England said of student drinking. “There might be a subculture on campus that might be considered a party crowd, but I think it’s a minority.”
According to statistics compiled by the office of Campus Life, about three students were dismissed for drinking this past spring and summer. That figure is about the same as in previous semesters, with the exception of last fall, when no one was dismissed for alcohol.
“It’s a pretty straight line across,” England said.
Over the past two years, a total of about 29 students have been dismissed for one of four reasons: consumption or possession of alcohol, illegal drug use, hazing or theft.
Although the number of dismissals remains small, alcohol probation cases are higher. About 25 students were placed on alcohol probation this past spring and summer, up from 21 last fall and 13 the spring and summer before that.
Probation is the discipline given after a first alcohol offence; students are dismissed after a second.
Numbers have yet to reach those of fall 2000, when 35 students were placed on probation for alcohol and six were dismissed for illegal drug use. England said the only illegal drug for which a student has been caught and punished has been marijuana.
ACU’s stable numbers buck a nationwide epidemic of drinking and drug use on college campuses. A report published by the Harvard School of Health this summer said at least 40 percent of American college students exhibit at least one sign of alcohol dependence and that a third meet clinical standards for alcohol abuse.
Such statistics are worrisome for ACU because national trends generally hit the campus a few years late. This means that while drinking statistics here may be stable now, they may not be so level a couple of years from now.
“I am concerned,” said Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life. “As are my colleagues.”
Barnard said that, based on the university’s standards, even one student drinking is a problem.
“I also think it is a problem when one student comes to ACU having made a covenant to not drink, and then breaks that covenant,” Barnard said, adding that although the university’s numbers are much lower than the vast majority of state and non-Christian private schools, ACU’s expectations are that no students will drink.
In that sense, “everything is not fine,” Barnard said. “With respect to our standards, I would say we have a problem.”
Alcohol probation requires the resignation of any student leadership positions, England said, but does not yet require the giving up of extracurricular activities or events. Students placed on alcohol probation must pay $125 to take an alcohol awareness class and sign a statement of compliance with ACU policies.
Dismissal occurs after a second offence, regardless of how long after the first offence it occurs. However, dismissal is not permanent. England said the university encourages dismissed students to return as soon as they can.
