A look inside the Norwich alcohol policy

The Violation of the Alcohol Policy (VAP) has become one the most important policies on campus, according to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Commandant of Cadets.

"If you are on campus and you are underage you are in violation of state law and therefore in violation of our VAP policy," said Vice President for student affairs and commandant of cadets, Michael Kelley. "If you are above age, meaning the age of twenty one you cannot consume on campus unless you consume at one of our licensed catered events." 

There are places on campus where students that are twenty-one and older can drink according to Kelley.

"For example most people know about the pub that operates on some weekend evenings. We also have special events for example, regimental ball," Kelley said. "If you are of legal age you can consume at those events however you cannot consume on other places on campus."

Just because you are of age does not mean you cannot be VAPed according to Kelley.

 "Even if you are of age and your behavior is belligerent, destructive or unsafe then you can be cited for an alcohol violation," Kelley said.

"If you are above age off campus it is legal for you to consume, but your behavior cannot be belligerent or unlawful," Kelley said. "If you are underage and you consume off campus the police can issue you a criminal citation because of your behavior."

When it comes to the on-campus alcohol policy, some students find it to be too strict.

Chris Cordeiro, 19, a sophomore computer security major from Austin, Texas, said "I went into a buddies room took a nap woke up about two hours later and there was like six or seven people in the room we are just sitting there talking and some people were doing homework."

 "A buddy of mine comes in the room and he had a Nalgene water bottle and I knew he was probably drinking. I got out of my bed and got in a chair to be social," Cordeiro said. "Somebody knocks on the door and opened the door. He starts sniffing around sees the Nalgene, drinks out of it to see what it is, and calls everybody back and we all got in trouble."

 "I think it is a little outrageous," Cordeiro said. "I think it is too broad if you are going to have a VAP policy it should follow in the footsteps of regular American law."

The punishment was long and time consuming according to Cordeiro.

 "I got thirty days of CMC and thirty days of working tours," Cordeiro said

The VAP policy is too harsh for first time offenses according to Lance Lasata, a 19-year-old sophomore business major from Hartford, Conn.

 "I think it's a little too harsh for a first time offense I don't think you should get thirty days of CMC and thirty tours for a first time offense" Lasata said. "I don't think you should get suspended for the second offense I think it should be a warning or something before and maybe more serious punishments afterwards"

The majority of students will drink throughout their four years at this school according to Lasata.

 "I would say throughout a Norwich University career 90 percent of students will drink on campus at least once," Lasata said.

Kevin Sciba, 21, a senior physical education major from Hopewell Junction NY said "I got VAPed because I went to my rook buddies room, they were drinking I had just sat down on the bed somebody knocked on the door opened the door the cadet saw the handle of alcohol on the floor so I got VAPed for being in the room."

"I believe you shouldn't drink but at the same time I think it needs to be relooked at," Sciba said.

Though the university is involved with cases on campus, there are some off campus cases where Norwich University does not get involved, according to Kelley.

 "If you are off campus and it is your first offense and you're cited with diversion you have to deal with the diversion ticket," Kelley said. "Sometimes that involves some kind of counseling that you have to receive and you have to pay a monetary fine."

The policy is broken down into three offenses according to Kelley.

 "Basically our policy on your first incident unless it is aggravated by some other behavior is generally if you are a cadet its CMC or tours if you are a civilian student it is (community service) work hours," Kelley said. "If it is a second offense it can and many times does result in a suspension and if it is a third offense it can result in dismissal"

The majority of students at Norwich University handle themselves well according to Kelley.

 "Most students are very respectful with the law and are very safety conscious and handle their behaviors accordingly," Kelley said.

Instances of students getting in trouble for driving under the influence (DUI) are on the rise at Norwich University and are a big problem and concern, according to Kelley.

 "This academic year I am very concerned with the number of students that have been charged with a DUI," Kelley said. "Driving when intoxicated places not only yourself but others at risk"

There is an alternative to driving under the influence according to Kelley.

"I would strongly urge all of our students to call a friend to pick them up and get them home to make sure they are safe," Kelley said.

"I think the VAP policy is not good for the University it encourages people that are of age to go off campus and drive back here drunk," said Russ Thoman, 20, a mechanical engineering major from Nashua, N.H. said.

But, there is a misconception about designated drivers according to Kelley.

 "To the best of my knowledge Norwich University has never in the last seven years charged a student with a NU offense for going after and assisting another student in need," Kelley said.

Designated drivers are strongly encouraged at Norwich University according to Kelley.

 "Students still believe that can get into trouble if they assist someone else," Kelley said. "If you are legal to drive and you go and assist a student in need never has Norwich University gone after a student for doing that"

This important policy has been worked on and developed over a long period of time.

 "We have had an alcohol policy since I have been here and I am sure before that," Kelley said.

There have been little changes over the years according to Kelley.

 "The policy has been revised over the years," Kelley said. "The areas that have been constant have been if you are consuming on campus and you are underage since I have been here that has always been a violation of the policy."

There have been some recent changes lately according to Kelley.

 "What has changed a little bit over time has been how we dealt with the off campus incidents," Kelley said. "The most recent change from a couple of years ago is if you receive a diversion ticket in your off campus behavior we will generally not deal with that, that is between you and the police."

The policy has not changed from last school year to this one according to Kelley.

 "The policy has been essentially stable this year and last year," Kelley said.

With the construction of the Wise Campus Center the Pub has been one of the biggest changes on campus according to Kelley.

"Probably the biggest change that has occurred over the years has been the introduction of the Pub," Kelley said.

The idea of an on campus-drinking site was on purpose according to Kelley.

 "When the Wise Campus Center came along we purposefully designed it with a Pub in it," Kelley said. "We purposefully did that so that our students can have a safe place to have a beer, something to eat and sit there with their friends."

 The idea of the Pub did not come without criticisms, according to Kelley.

 "There were skeptics who felt that would not work" Kelley said. "Some people who thought students would take advantage of it but that is the farthest from the truth."

The responsible use of the Pub has been impressive according to Kelley.

 "The vast majority of students who use the Pub do so in a very responsible manner and conduct themselves accordingly," Kelley said.

There is a place where students can get help who have alcohol in substance abuse issues according to Kelley

 "Some of our students have been known to have a problems whether it is where they grew up, their background, what they are exposed to in their family, what they were exposed to with their friends" Kelley said. "They think that if they go ask Gale Mears the substance abuse counselor for help she will pick up the phone and report them this is the farthest thing from the truth."

"We do provide alcohol education," Kelley said. "One of the other things we do prior to Regimental Ball and Junior Ring Dance there is some sort of educational program"

 "If I could get one single message out, safety," Kelley said. "Safety for themselves, safety for those who they are around and safety for each other."