Dry campus regulations push students into dangerous situations

Along with earning a degree, many students attend college to find themselves and transition from childhood to adulthood. Restrictions on adult freedom, such as campus alcohol-bans, have pushed students off campus and away from school activities. Are strict dry campus rules protecting Chadron State College students or fostering unsafe practices and sneaky habits?

CSC should revise its current regulations of a dry campus and allow legal alcohol consumption to promote safety and treat students like adults.

Currently, CSC is deemed a dry campus, meaning that all alcohol consumption, even for students over the age of 21, is strictly forbidden. This rule forces student nightlife out of the dorms and into bars or townhouses. The nearest bar to campus is slightly over a mile away, giving intoxicated students the option to walk home, which is not feasible in the winter months, or risk driving under the influence. As a small town, 24-hour bus services are not available for safe transportation.

Earlier this school year, CSC made a stride towards becoming a partially wet campus with the trial run of a Beer Garden at home football games. During home games, alcoholic beverages were sold to fans over the legal drinking age.

“The pilot program within the stadium has been implemented successfully. A handful of minor issues have been appropriately handled, and a majority of the patrons have purchased and consumed alcohol responsibly,” said Austen Stephens, dean of student affairs.

While binge and underage drinking are valid concerns, it’s naive to assume these behaviors are not currently occurring without residence life awareness. With the safety of students in mind, additional protocols may need to be put in place to separate students over the age of 21.

According to Stephens, Housing & Residence Life Staff, Security Staff, and student leadership groups would need additional training. He said it is likely that alcohol would need to be restricted in shared spaces, and roommates/suitemates would need to be the same age to avoid conflict.

Stephens also said the Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees would need to approve the decision, and Chadron’s sister schools would likely need to move in a unified manner.

By treating students like adults, CSC can foster responsibility and create a safer environment for everyone. Students and administrators should work together to create a more realistic alcohol policy that focuses on alcohol safety, rather than pretending it doesn’t exist.