Drinking is a stereotypical part of the college experience.
Even at a dry campus like Pepperdine, where alcohol is banned on campus regardless of a student’s age.
A Pepp Post survey of 50 students found that 42 percent said they had had alcohol on campus despite the prohibition.
Such stats didn’t surprise Resident Advisor Jeremiah Anthony.
“First-year students are still quite young and sometimes behave recklessly,” Anthony, a junior history major, said. “They are caught drinking on campus as a way to assert themselves within a group.”
Slightly more than half of students surveyed said they had witnessed other students with alcohol on campus. Another 6 percent said that they were unsure if they had seen other students drink.
What do students think about a dry campus policy?
“I think it is part of college experience for us students to encounter alcohol,” Dafne Nascimento, sophomore political science major, said. “I just think that there is a time and place for everything. Drinking on campus is obviously not an option. I also think that having the drinking age here in the U.S. at 21 just creates more problems.”
First-year business administration major Brooke Barry said the dry campus policy does not bother her.
“I have felt for years now that the drinking age in the U.S. is very unreasonable and somewhat pointless because if under aged teenagers want to drink they will always find a way,” Barry said. “I enjoy the fact that Pepperdine is a dry campus. It makes me feel more secure in the environment that I
live and study. It is important not to mix leisure with obligations.”
What happens when students get caught?
Associate Dean of Student Affairs Sharon Beard shared what happens to students when they are caught or written up for the possession of alcohol.
“Regardless of age, the standard sanction for possession and consumption on campus is university probation for at least four months,” Beard said. “Probation indicates that a student’s status with the university is tenuous and any violation while on probation could result in suspension.”
Beard said the punishment for possession and consumption of alcohol can be as severe as year suspension from the university. She wasn’t able to give any statistics on alcohol-related disciplinary action.
Students can also lose the right to hold certain leadership positions on campus, such as resident advisors or spiritual life advisers, and the right to participate in International Programs during the probation.
Students are required to do an alcohol assessment with the Counseling Center and take an online education course on alcohol and drugs, Beard said.
The Counselling Center provides help for students who encounter difficulties with alcohol consumption.
“The assessment provides the student with feedback, support and resources,” Counselling Coordinator Kimberly Greenhaw said. “We provide students with a safe place to seek help and support.”
Pepperdine’s student handbook of states that the university wants to “foster an alcohol and drug free environment in which to work, live and learn.”
Do the dry campus rules apply when abroad?
According to Pepperdine’s International Programs website, two thirds of students go overseas.
“The rules for housing on Pepperdine’s campus remain the same,” Philip Cho, assignments coordinator for Housing and Residence Life, said. “From all the housing rules a student can violate, alcohol possession is the least frequent.”
Greg Muger, director of International Programs, said students caught with alcohol at overseas campuses face the same consequences as if they were on the Malibu campus.
“The consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on university property or at any university-sponsored event or activity that is sponsored by International Programs such as group meals, farewell banquets or group transportation,” Muger said. “Again, regardless of student’s age and the drinking age in the country they find themselves in.
“Students that exhibit disruptive behaviour while under the influence of alcohol will be placed on university probation for either the remainder of the semester or the rest of the academic year,” Muger continued.
Victoria Khaznadar, sophomore integrated marketing communication major, said there is more nightlife overseas, making it easier for students to drink away from the IP campuses.
“I am about to finish my second semester here in London but if I look back to my freshman year I can definitely see a difference to how often us students are exposed to nightlife abroad then when in Malibu,” Khaznadar said. “I feel like here in London students go out more but back in Malibu students take more risks and drink more on campus then outside.”
Isabella Porchia completed this story under the supervision of Dr. Christina Littlefield in Jour 241 in spring 2017.
