Alcohol policy enforced

Tulane University Police Department, in conjunction with the New Orleans Police Department and other local agencies, is poised to take a tougher stance on underage drinking in an effort to keep students safe.

TUPD officials say the problems arising from excessive alcohol consumption pose a serious threat to the safety of Tulane students.

“Last school year there were 347 incidents involving alcohol reported to TUPD,” Tulane Police Chief Daniel Lawless said. “These ranged from students throwing up to damaging facilities to becoming crime victims.”

When Lawless became chief of TUPD, he instituted a zero-tolerance policy toward drug possession on campus. He said this policy has been effective in curbing drug use on campus.

“Drugs draw an element to campus that you don’t want around,” Lawless said. “The student population is very trusting and that can lead to a crime problem.”

Lawless said TUPD is looking to institute a similar crackdown on underage drinking. If officers are receiving complaints about underage individuals being served at local bars, TUPD will speak to the bar owner about the problem.

“We meet with them and talk to them about it,” Lawless said. “If the problem doesn’t abate we ask NOPD or the state to help.”

Because TUPD does not have the authority to conduct raids off campus, they have been working with NOPD and the state Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control to enforce the drinking age.

“Many times, as the records will reflect, we spend a tremendous amount of [our] budget and manpower to take a place out of business for such violations only to have another one take its place or the crowd move to another location,” ATC Commissioner Murphy Painter said.  “We will continue to pursue all violations of state law and also continue to respond to any request for assistance from local law enforcement in these matters. Hopefully we are making a difference.”

TUPD will continue to issue student conduct violations for violations of alcohol policy in the code of student conduct. Lawless said that though his office has the ability to take offenders to jail, he would rather avoid that option.

“The point is to get the behavior addressed here first in student conduct,” he said.

Director of Student Conduct Kristen Kawczynski said she was unaware of the crackdown, but that the office of student conduct is taking a hard stance on the issue.

“The university, from all sides, takes the issue of underage drinking very seriously and we want to educate students about the effects, consequences and responsibilities students have when it comes to the use of alcohol,” Kawczynski said. “TUPD will and does respond to any incident that they see or become aware of.”