The College
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is mandated and obligated (through the Federal Drug Free Workplace act) to take an active role in making the campus a safe, productive, healthy, and law abiding place to live, work, and play. Although many students begin college having already experimented with alcohol, it is important to recognize that flagrant illegal underage consumption of alcohol will not be tolerated.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota takes seriously the issue of alcohol abuse as this chosen behavior can and does interfere with an individual’s ability to succeed in college both inside and outside of the classroom. Saint Mary’s University recognizes that some students may choose to consume alcohol disregarding legal and health guidelines aimed at reducing risky drinking behaviors. Students who choose to engage in risky drinking behaviors do suffer negative consequences including, but not limited to, driving while impaired, doing poorly on tests, and unwanted sexual contact.
This policy clearly identifies the consequences that may occur if a student chooses to violate the university alcohol policy. As a Lasallian institution, our mission includes instilling a sense of personal responsibility and a concern for the welfare of self and others, and to ignite a thirst for knowledge and a respect for legitimate authority in those students entrusted to our care. The university makes education the starting point in helping students address the consequences of poor decision making regarding alcohol consumption.
Alcohol Policy Regulations
Please note that any student who chooses to violate these policies will face disciplinary action.
Drinking age: Persons 21 years of age or older may drink alcoholic beverages only in private residence hall rooms or at contracted events on campus.
Location: On campus, alcohol is permitted only in private rooms in residence halls and Villages, where at least one resident is 21 years of age or older. Alcohol may be consumed on porches (front door) in the New Village or in the private residential rooms or Villages of those who are 21 years of age or older. Alcohol is not permitted in Saint Edward’s Hall, Saint Benilde Hall, Vlazny Hall, Skemp Hall and Hillside Hall (3rdfloor) regardless of the age of the students there. Alcohol is not permitted in any public area or outdoors on campus without prior approval from the Office of Student Development. Public areas include but are not limited to: residence hall lounges, study rooms and hallways; the Plaza; all academic buildings; athletic and recreational venues; and outdoor areas owned and operated by the university. Possession of open containers of alcohol is prohibited at all times at all campus locations, except at and during any contracted events where alcohol is served.
Responsibility: Residents of a room or a Village are ultimately held responsible for their guests and for any violation of university policy, any disorder, or any damage associated with their or their guests’ use of alcohol. If one roommate is 21 or older (legal age) and one roommate is under 21 years of age, and any minor is found to be under the influence of alcohol and / or possesses alcohol in the room, all alcohol in the room will be confiscated. It is illegal for anyone to sell or give a person under legal age any alcoholic beverage or to solicit a person to purchase or attempt to purchase an alcoholic beverage for a person under the legal age. Students found responsible for providing alcohol to minors will face
disciplinary action.
Underage consumption of alcohol: A student may be disciplined for the underage consumption of alcohol if they are found in a location where alcohol is present. Students may avoid formal disciplinary sanctions for underage alcohol consumption by complying with the instructions of campus officials to take an immediate alcohol breathalyzer test. When this is not available, students may report to the Campus Safety office within one hour of the incident and request an alcohol breathalyzer test. The results of the test (either positive or negative for alcohol) will be shared with the student and forwarded to the staff member who filed the initial incident report.
If a student does not follow these conditions and/or tests positive for presence of alcohol, he/she will be subject to formal disciplinary action.
Flagrant misuse of the breathalyzer: Students are expected to take the breathalyzer to prove they have no alcohol in their system. Students whotest positive on a second occasion or any time after will face an additional $15 fine. Underage students who have been caught under the influence of alcohol are encouraged to be honest and take responsibility for their behavior and avoid this additional fine.
Student Identification: Students are expected to carry their student ID with them at all times. In the event that a student is documented and does not have their ID, the student may be subject to being photographed by a campus official for purposes of identification. If the student provides a false identity to a campus official they will face a $50 fine and confiscation of the false ID in addition to any other sanctions linked to the original documentation.
Amount of alcohol: No stockpiling of alcohol is allowed, as this can be an indicator of binge drinking. There should be no more than one (1) full case of non-glassbeer or one (1) non-glassbottle of hard liquor in each residence hall room or Village apartment occupied by students of legal age.
Alcohol containers: No kegs, party balls, beer-bongs, mass-quantity or common sources of alcohol are allowed on campus. For safety purposes, glass alcohol containers (cups, bottles, mugs and glasses) are prohibited. Aluminum and plastic containers are allowed. All empty alcohol containers must be disposed of properly and should not be used for decorative purposes.
Public intoxication: Public intoxication is not permitted as it shows disrespect for one’s self and for the university community. Additionally, more times than not, public intoxication is coupled with a community disruption of some sort. Additional fines may be given for higher levels of intoxication based on the observations and reports of campus officials.
Drinking and Driving: Students of legal age are strongly encouraged to refrain from any drinking and driving. Students must not drive when under the influence of alcohol. Reaction times, judgment, and general driving abilities are impaired once alcohol enters the body. Nationwide, alcohol is implicated in 40% of all traffic fatalities. Students suspected of impaired driving due to alcohol (dangerous or highly erratic driving patterns) on campus will be questioned and may face disciplinary action.
Alcohol and Academics: Students are prohibited from appearing at any university classroom/clinical site/or controlled facilities with the presence of alcohol in his/her body.
Alcohol during finals: Due to the need for extra consideration for fellow students one week prior to and during finals, violations of the alcohol policy by students during this time may result in additional consequences including a $100 fine.
Alcohol over breaks: Students need to be reminded that all residences are inspected for maintenance and safety related issues during breaks. If alcohol or paraphernalia linked to alcohol or other drugs are found in a room of a resident who is underage, the student will face a minimum $30 fine and the alcohol/paraphernalia will be removed and disposed of according to normal procedures. Of age students with excessive alcohol/paraphernalia will face the same consequences as listed above. The student may also face additional sanctions.
Guest restrictions: For fire safety purposes, all residence halls and Villages have specific capacity restrictions. At any time, there should be no more than three guests present per number of students allowed to live in a residence. For example, a room with a capacity of two can have six guests (three per resident) plus themselves to total eight people present at one time.
Campus-sponsored student events: Alcohol is prohibited at all campus events, including but not limited to athletic events, club and organization meetings and events, and music or theatrical events. The Office of Student Development may make exceptions to this general policy. The Office of Student Development may impose precautionary measures on any approved on- or off-campus event with alcohol. Those measures may include, but not be limited to, hiring a law enforcement officer to be present at the expense of the student organization.
Student Organizations: Any student organization that is inappropriately providing or allowing alcohol to be present at a formal or informal event/gathering affiliated with its organization will face disciplinary action that could ultimately result in university disbandment or suspension of activity. A student organization in this context refers to all clubs, organizations, fraternities, sororities, honor societies, athletic teams, musical groups, etc.
Serving Underage Students: Any individual or organization that implements, supports and/or promotes an alcohol-related event, on- or off-campus, where underage students are being served and/or excessive drinking is permitted, will be subject to possible dismissal from the university.
Hosting an event with alcohol: All gatherings in the Villages that have more than 12 guests (16 guests total, when including the four residents) where alcohol is served, must be contracted with the university. Only Villages where two of the residents are of legal age may be granted party contracts. No parties are to be held from Sunday through Thursday, during breaks or during final exams. Violations by residents living in any residence hall on campus will face additional sanctions including community service (2-5 hours) and fines ($20-$50).
Individuals who have social gatherings where alcohol is served must follow all university regulations. The host or hosts assume all legal obligations for serving alcohol and for the behavior of their guests including, but not limited to, paying for any damages caused by guests. While approval may be given to serve alcohol, no mass-quantity serving devices may be utilized on campus, and underage guests may not be served, nor can obviously intoxicated individuals continue to be served.
Uncompleted sanctions: Students who violate university policies are expected to meet with campus officials and complete sanctions in a timely manner. Students will face additional consequences (including fines) for failure to complete sanctions by the deadlines. Students who withdraw from the university will also face additional fines for uncompleted sanctions.
Consequences for Alcohol Policy Violations
Level I – First-time, less serious violations may include:
Confiscation of alcohol, meet with relevant staff members/judicial officials*, possible notification of parents, Alcohol 101, mandated counseling**, $25-$50 fine, community service***, restitution for any damages.
Level II – Repeated or more serious violations may include:
Confiscation of alcohol, meet with relevant staff members/judicial officials*, notification of parents, Alcohol 201, mandated counseling**, $50-$100 fine, community service***, restitution for any damages.
Level III – Most serious violations, multiple violations of Level I and/or II may include:
Confiscation of alcohol, meet with relevant staff members/judicial officials*, Alcohol 301**, $100-$200 fine, community service***, restitution for any damages, off-campus assessment, one week ban from the residence halls, suspension, expulsion.
Driving under the influence of alcohol – All violations
Immediate involvement of local law enforcement, possible loss of campus parking privileges up to and including the remainder of the student’s academic career.
*The responsibility to attend judicial meetings with staff members lies with the student. Students who refuse to meet with staff or judicial bodies to discuss policy violations or who do not complete assigned consequences in a timely manner are subject to additional, more severe, consequences. Students are strongly encouraged to finish sanctions in a timely manner. Students will NOT be allowed to register for classes until the sanction is completed.
Disciplinary records are cumulative and consequences can carry over from year-to-year. Students who have specific consequences which have carried over from the previous year will be notified of their responsibilities upon their return to campus.
Parental Notification: Saint Mary’s University will notify the parents of students, under the age of 21, who are found responsible for multiple and/or serious violations of the alcohol policy. Students who violate the university drug policy also face notification of parents. The university intends to partner with parents in combating the consequences of high-risk behaviors associated with alcohol and illegal drug use. The university will provide educational programs, counseling options and other services to address the responsible use of alcohol and consequences of using illegal drugs.
Off-campus living, events and travel programs: Although students may study abroad or in a different city or state, or live and socialize off-campus, as Saint Mary’s students they are held accountable for the values espoused by the university. When the off-campus actions or behaviors of an enrolled student come to the attention of university officials while classes are in session, the student will face disciplinary action.
On-Campus Resources
Wellness Center
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Wellness Center, located in the basement of the Toner Center, provides opportunities for students to obtain information about alcohol and drug use/abuse. Individual and group counseling, online educational CD-ROMs, books, and pamphlets are available for students use.
On-Line Assessment
The e-CHUG (electronic Check-Up to Go) is an interactive web survey that allows college students to enter information about their drinking patterns and tobacco use. Students then receive feedback about their use of alcohol and tobacco. It is a free service to any SMU student. It is accessible from any computer with internet access: www.smumn.edu/echug. The assessment takes about 5-10 minutes to complete, is self-guided, and requires no face to face contact time with a counselor or administrator.
However, any counselor in the Wellness Counseling Center will be willing to give you feedback or answer any additional questions you have regarding the assessment results.
Good Samaritan Policy
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