UH Manoa moving to curb illegal underage drinking and excessive alcohol consumption in the dorms

Task force recommendations will circulate for comment

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Jim Manke, (808) 956-6099
UH Manoa Chancellor's Office
Ron Cambra, (808) 956-8844
Associate Dean
Posted: Apr 13, 2005

A campus and community task force has formulated recommendations to address underage and excessive alcohol consumption in UH Manoa student residence halls. They include administrative measures that can be implemented immediately, and other recommendations to be put in place over a longer term following on-campus consultation.

"I am very pleased with the results of the task force discussions," said Manoa Chancellor Peter Englert. "We now have on the table the pieces for an integrated and comprehensive program we believe will go a long way toward managing the enforcement of rules, educating our students in healthful and responsible behavior, and moving toward alternative leisure time activities. The goal is a safer living environment; I believe we‘re on the right track."

The task force included staff and student representatives from the Student Housing Office; members of the Parents of UHM, a student housing support group; UHM Campus Security; the Dean of Students Judiciary Office; a representative of the Honolulu Coalition for the Prevention of Underage Drinking; and an external campus security consultant. Meetings have been underway since early January to develop an approach to curb illegal alcohol use by minors and to minimize excessive alcohol consumption by those of legal age.

Task force coordinator Ron Cambra, Associate Dean of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, had high praise for the cooperative effort that resulted in the recommendations. "We had excellent input from all of our concerned groups on campus. Also, the support of the Honolulu Police Department and Major Bart Huber, the base commanders of all branches of the military service on Oʻahu through community military coordinator SFC Lamont Christian, and State Representative Lynn Finnegan and her office staffer Joy Bounds have been most helpful.

"In the past several weeks," Cambra said, "we have also been working with the military and security personnel and have been able to reduce drastically the number of military personnel who had been coming to the residence hall areas on weekends in search of parties. Campus Security has also been especially successful in reducing the availability of alcohol on campus through its roadblock and ID program set up at campus dorm entry points. We have seen some noticeable differences as we implement aggressive programs to eliminate underage high school and off campus students coming to party at our dorms."

Chancellor Englert said, "We will be meeting with students and others over the next few weeks to hear their reactions and suggestions. In the meantime, we will proceed with those administrative matters that we can put into place right away, and then hope to have the program fully implemented by the time the fall semester begins.

"This is a matter that will require adequate resources," Englert added. "I am committed to allocating funds where necessary to move forward on this critical health and safety issue. We also pledge to monitor the program to see what works best and to modify our policies and practices as necessary."

The task force recommendations fall into three general categories —
education, enforcement, and alternative programs.

Education

This includes hiring an alcohol and drug education program coordinator, development of Web-based educational programs, conducting a "social norms" education campaign, and including alcohol policy and enforcement presentations at New Student Orientation and through the Athletic Department for all student athletes.

Another component could include regular newsletter and other contact with parents and friends groups to reinforce alcohol policies, and involve these support groups in student housing events and activities.

Enforcement - Specific actions recommended:

-Requirement that everyone in the student housing area carry a photo ID card and produce the card when requested

-Security cameras in place in student residence common areas

-Hale Noelani to be designated as a residence hall for students 20 years of age and younger (but not freshmen); Hale Noelani to be alcohol free beginning Fall 2005.

-Hale Wainani low rise apartments to be designated as an alcohol free residence for students 21 and over; Hale Wainani high rise restricted to students of legal drinking age, with new access and permit policies in place

-Move to the establishment of a Campus Police Force, or invest the existing Campus Security force with additional authority and responsibility, including issuance of citations

-Implement a "three strikes" policy, through the existing student judicial process, whereby any student who accumulates three violations — for alcohol abuse, vandalism, or another cause — is no longer allowed to live on campus

-Periodic review of UH Manoa alcohol policies

-Create a Student Housing Conduct Coordinator to consistently and quickly assess policies, process complaints, enforce disciplinary actions

-Establish a system-wide judicial data base to keep up-to-date and accurate records of student disciplinary actions to assure accountability

-Establish a parental notification system consistent with all federal and state privacy laws

-Absolute and consistent enforcement of underage drinking laws

-Stricter enforcement of social host policies regarding accountability of persons of legal drinking age who serve alcohol to minors

Alternate Leisure Time Programs

This includes establishment of an Office of Late Night Activities Programs.

The task force also recommends that University Health Services should be open and available around the clock, and that the UHS professional staff provide first aid and CPR training for all Resident Advisors and housing staff.

In addition, a University of Hawaiʻi Alcohol and Drug Task Force would be established to be responsible for ongoing monitoring of policies and practices and establishing new policies and abuse-prevention programs as appropriate.