Alcohol offenses by students at CU-Boulder will continue to have potentially serious and expensive consequences this fall.
University officials have been reminding students, via posters, bus signs, email bulletins and letters to parents, that the university's "3 Strikes" policy for alcohol and drug-abuse offenses will continue for the 2001-2002 school year and for the foreseeable future.
"Fourteen students were suspended or expelled for at least a semester during our last school year," said Bob Maust, CU's principal investigator for alcohol abuse on the Boulder campus.
"Forfeiture of tuition and room and board deposits, because of a suspension or expulsion can be a very expensive proposition for students and their parents, especially non-resident students," he said.
Under the "3 Strikes" policy initiated last fall, any CU-Boulder student found responsible for one offense, on- or off-campus, will be placed on probation for one semester and be required to perform community service and attend awareness classes.
After two offenses, parents are notified and students are placed on one-year probation. After three alcohol offenses, students are subject to suspension from the university for at least one semester or expulsion.
When the CU football team travels to Invesco Field at Mile High this weekend to face the CSU Rams, beer sales will be limited to box and club-level seats in a decision made by the Stadium District, CU and CSU.
However, in keeping with CU-Boulder's beer ban at Folsom Field, alcohol will not be served at the four CU boxes reserved for the Sept. 1 game. CU's boxes will be used by CU President Betsy Hoffman, CU-Boulder Chancellor Richard Byyny, the regents and the athletic director, Dick Tharp.
Beer has not been sold at Folsom Stadium since 1996, when the ban was instituted for a two-year trial period. The ban was renewed indefinitely by Chancellor Byyny in 1998.
According to Ron Stump, vice-chancellor for student affairs, "Whether an offense occurs on campus, in town or at Invesco Field at a university event, it is still considered a strike if it meets the policy criteria.
Incoming classes of students are increasingly receptive to the idea of taking personal responsibility for their actions, Stump said. "Fortunately, these new students have a positive attitude toward responsible behavior thus far."