College of Charleston | Annual Security Report| Student Alcohol Policy and Information

Student Alcohol Policy & Information

A. Residence Life and Housing

1. Approximately 85 percent of our residence hall population is not of legal age to purchase or drink alcoholic beverages. Further, abuse of College of Charleston property is usually directly related to excessive use of alcohol. Accordingly, the following restrictions apply: beer and wine are allowed in only eighteen “upper-class” residence halls and houses. There will be no alcoholic beverages allowed in Berry, Buist, College Lodge, Craig, McAlister, and McConnell Halls. Where allowed, alcoholic beverages must be in the private possession and control of the owner.All persons consuming alcohol must be of legal drinking age and are responsible for their behavior and actions. NO KEGS are allowed in the residence hall system at any time. Residential students are strongly encouraged to know the pertinent rules and regulations as outlined in The Guide to Residence Living.

B. Alcohol-Related Violation Responses within the Residence Halls, On Campus or Off Campus

1. First Violation (Adjudication by Residence Life and Housing staff/Student Affairs official) Sanctions include, but are not limited to:

a) Receive a letter of warning, probation or be placed on residence life probation for a minimum of one semester if a residential student and incident occurs within the residential system.
b) Have a parental/guardian notification letter sent concerning the violation.
c) Participate in an alcohol risk reduction program or assessment at Counseling and Substance Abuse Services. Fees will be charged.
d) Educational activities.

Failure to complete first offense sanctions will result in a fine ($150.00 or more) and other sanctions.

2. Second Violation (Adjudication by Student Affairs official/Honor Board/Panel) Sanctions include, but are not limited to:

a) Be placed on probation, residence life probation, removed from residence life housing and/or deferred disciplinary suspension (one more violation and student is suspended from enrollment) for a minimum of one semester.

If a student is removed from residence life housing for disciplinary reasons full payment of the contract is due if a residential student and incident occurs within the residential system.

b) Participate in an alcohol risk reduction program or assessment at Counseling and Substance Abuse Services. Fees will be charged.
c) Have a parental/guardian notification letter sent concerning the violation.
d) Educational activities.

Failure to complete second offense sanctions will result in a fine ($200.00 or more) and other sanctions unless student is on deferred suspension.

3. Third Violation (Adjudication by Student Affairs official/Honor Board/Panel) Sanctions include, but are not limited to:

a) Be removed from residence life housing with full payment of the contract due if a residential student and incident occurs within the residential system. b) Be placed on disciplinary suspension from the College for a minimum of one semester.
b) Be placed on disciplinary suspension from the College for a minimum of one semester.
c) Have re-admission to the College dependent on successful completion of a pre- approved substance abuse counseling program.
d) Have a parental/guardian notification letter sent concerning the violation.

Health Risks:

Death: 1,700 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes (Hingson et al., 2005).

Injury: 599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol (Hingson et al., 2005).

Assault: More than 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking (Hingson et al., 2005).

Sexual Abuse: More than 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape; over 400,000 had unprotected sex; and more than 100,000 students report having been too intoxicated to know if they consented to having sex (Hingson et al., 2002 & 2005).

Health Problems/Suicide Attempts: More than 150,000 students develop an alcohol-related health problem (Hingson et al., 2002) and between 1.2 and 1.5 percent of students indicate that they tried to commit suicide within the past year due to drinking or drug use (Presley et al., 1998).

Drunk Driving: 2.1 million students between the ages of 18 and 24 drove under the influence of alcohol last year (Hingson et al., 2002).

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Last Updated September 23, 2009