In recent years, lawmakers have stepped in to curb underage drug and alcohol abuse on college campuses.
In October 1998, Congress passed an amendment to the Higher Education Act that allows colleges to inform parents when a student under 21 has violated drug or alcohol laws.
After the act passed, the number of universities with parental notification policies increased.
The University also adopted a form of parental notification.
When the Office of the Dean of Students receives notification from law enforcement that a University student has been arrested during an academic session for a drug-or alcohol-related violation, a professional staff member from the office will notify that student's parent or guardian.
The staff member will encourage the student to make the initial call but will follow up with a phone call later.
The parental notification policy makes "sure that the student has an adequate network of support," Asst. Dean of Students Aaron Laushway said. "The family is the start of the support."
But there are guidelines the Office of the Dean of Students must follow when notifying parents.
According to guidelines, parents or guardians are contacted regarding their children's arrests for drug or alcohol violations when students' "health and well-being are in jeopardy."
When other drug- or alcohol-related offenses not involving an arrest occur, the student simply has a meeting with a member of the Office of the Dean of Students.
If there is "pattern or severity" involved with the drug or alcohol incidents, the student is evaluated by a member of the Office of the Dean of Students as well as other appropriate professionals.
In order to be considered as having "pattern or severity," a student would have to exhibit frequent episodes of drunkenness.
Getting parents and guardians involved is "bringing more resources to the table to help someone having trouble making good decisions," Dean of Students Penny Rue said.
It is uncertain how effective the new alcohol policy has been at the University. No statistics were available as to whether there had been a decline in incidents since the new policy was put into place several years ago.
But, "very few [students involved] have a repeat offense," Rue said.
Some students said they felt the parental notification policy was ineffective and inappropriate to use on college students.
"I think that it is contradictory to student self-governance," second-year College student Lucas Beirne said. "They decide [to notify parents] for you rather than let you make your own decision."
Third-year College student Edward Daniels said he thought parental notification would deter students from drinking.
"It's really unfortunate for people to get caught," third-year College student Amy Dearborn said. "They are old enough. They are adults."
"They can take care of themselves," she said.
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