‘Three-strike system’ enforcement more strict than previous years
According to current university statistics, there are 59 people on probation in Stearns West, and another 57 in Stearns East. That means that in Williams Village alone, over 100 students are already on their way to their first strike.
According to university policy, if any underage CU student while in any of the dorms on campus is found possessing, using, providing, manufacturing, distributing or selling alcoholic beverages the student has violated their housing agreement.
The university operates on a “strike” system. This means that each alcohol violation can count against a student who is caught. Most students assume that it is “three strikes and you’re out,” but there is sometimes some leniency in the final decision.
“Being caught in the presence of alcohol is not always a strike,” said Colleen Schmidt, the hall director in Stearns West. “If there is a policy violation in the dorms, a student gets put on probation for a semester.”
It is only after a student is caught again while still on probation that they will officially have strike one, not to mention having to complete hours of community service.
“Stearns East and West are the party halls,” Schmidt said. “Kids are getting in trouble there two or three times more than other halls. The number of people getting caught drinking is about the same as it has been in the past couple years, but every year there is definitely a large number of stupid people living in the dorms.”
Each hall director has the option upon meeting with the student in trouble to decide if they should, in addition to completing community service, attend alcohol awareness classes.
“Usually if the student admits to drinking or is reported to have been under the influence at the time of the incident the classes come as no surprise,” Schmidt said.
It costs $120 for a student attend the class and learn about the harmful effects of alcohol. Some students lack the desire, as well as the means to attend.
“I honestly don’t think I could afford to take the alcohol classes if they told me I needed to,” said Jasna Celovic, a freshmen open-option major who violated the policy by allowing other students to drink in her dorm room.
If there are two offenses while the student is still on the university’s radar, parents are notified and the student is placed on one-year probation. If three offenses occur, the student runs the risk of being suspended from CU for at least one semester, as well as expulsion.
Over the past few years, the language of the three-strike policy has not changed much, but the enforcement has.
“It went from being really strict, to more relaxed, then to strict again,” Schmidt said, “In say, 2005 if there was alcohol visible, it was a violation no matter what.”
Some students feel that sometimes it is just luck.
“It’s funny, because I’ve had more to drink here than any of my friends, and they are the ones that have gotten caught,” said David O’Boyle, a freshman pre-journalism major living in Smith Hall.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Clare Lane at clare.lane@thecampuspress.com
