Senator’s Stiff Anti-Drinking Policy Gets Watered Down On Way To Floor

A watered-down alcohol policy for state college and university dormitories has passed the Senate Higher Education committee and is headed for the Senate floor.

Earlier versions of the bill, ESB5605, would have banned alcohol from all campus housing. The bill now calls for schools to offer alcohol-free housing.

“There is no logical or legitimate reason alcohol should be allowed in state-owned dorms,” said Sen. Brad Owen, D-Shelton, who wrote the original bill.

Owen said he accepted the milder version of the bill after university administrators and students objected to a total alcohol ban. “If I’ve got no bill, the problem won’t get solved,” he said.

Administrators said the original bill went too far and would be difficult to enforce.

Washington State University administrators took steps to limit alcohol on campus in anticipation of possible legislation. Last August, the university made some freshman-only halls alcohol free.

The bill “is very consistent with the program here at WSU,” said Gus Kravas, WSU vice-provost for student affairs. “It seems not only reasonable, but seems to be working hand in glove with the institution.”

Eastern Washington University also offers alcohol-free dormitories.

Kravas said banning all drinking would create rancor among students 21 and older who might think such restrictions violate their rights.

Currently, WSU bans beer kegs in dorms, all alcohol in non-drinking halls, and any drinking by minors. Students over 21 may drink in their rooms if they don’t live in a nonalcohol dorm.

Although Kravas supports the policy, he said regulating drinking in the dorms will not stop alcohol abuse among students because the problem is prevalent in society.

Jen Atkinson, a student and president of the Residence Hall Association at WSU, called the legislation “more words.”

Attempts to rid dorms of alcohol just drives drinking underground, she said, noting several underage students were cited early last semester for drinking.

“It didn’t stop anything, it just made people more sneaky,” Atkinson said. “You’re just not going to stop people from drinking.”

Atkinson said other university policies, such as the ban on men and women living together in state housing, also are frequently ignored.

“College life is about choices,” she said. “I hope we can be allowed to make some.”

Sen. Eugene Prince, R-Thornton, said the bill is more of a message to universities than a mandate.

“This bill sends a message that the public won’t put up with what has gone on,” Prince said. “If they realize there is unhappiness, sometimes they will do something about it.”

The bill passed out of the Higher Education Committee last week and is expected to go to the Senate floor sometime this month.

If it passes, it then goes to the House for consideration.

, DataTimes