Moscow Police To Crack Down On Campus Drinking

City police are advising fraternity and sorority leaders that they intend to strictly enforce alcohol laws on and around the University of Idaho campus this fall.

“We are going to take a very strong stance on alcohol and alcohol violations,” Moscow Police Capt. Dale Mickelsen said.

The declaration came just days before the beginning of the annual sorority rush, and Mickelsen said officers will be prominent around the campus.

State laws and university rules penalize carrying an open container of alcohol on public property, under-age drinking and drunken driving.

Fraternity and sorority houses are private property. But following several tragic alcohol-related incidents on campus, some fraternities and all sororities have instituted their own restrictions.

“We’re optimistic with some of the changes the fraternities and sororities say they will make,” Mickelsen said.

“The Moscow Police Department strongly supports the responsible use of alcohol. Everybody knows what the age you’re allowed to drink is. It’s not the consumption of alcohol, but what the people do under the influence.”

The university also has tried to educate freshman about alcohol abuse after being criticized and sued for past policies.

“Certainly, some student behavior is unpredictable, but I think that it is unfortunately true and common that they often act before thinking and often feel that there won’t be consequences to their behavior,” Dean of Students Bruce Pitman said.

“Unfortunately some or many of those are students that we then work with in the emergency room and later on,” Pitman said.