As one of its election initiatives, the new executive board of the Texas Tech Student Government Association aimed to “create a safer alcohol culture by lobbying for good samaritan laws and fewer [public intoxication tickets] on campus.”
Texas Tech requires all incoming freshman to complete AlcoholEDU, an online program about the mental and physical effects of alcohol, before and during their first semesters. Starting in fall 2015, new students were also required to complete Haven, an online education program about healthy relationships, relationship violence and sexual assault.
Alex DeRossi, external vice president of SGA, said he has a better chance of curing the common cold than putting an end to drinking on college campuses. He said creating a safer alcohol culture starts with continuing education beyond Alcohol EDU for freshmen.
Ben Sharp, SGA president, said tragedies can be prevented if students are educated and not afraid to get an intoxicated friend help. They agree that Alcohol EDU has good information, but they would like to see it updated and continued.
“It begins by educating people on how to drink safely,” Sharp said. “But also, we need to instill a spirit of fellow Red Raidership and making sure that students are taking care of each other.”
Stephen Hinkle, administrative captain of the Texas Tech Police Department, said “Good Samaritan” laws are already in place on campus, and the most common tickets issued are for minors in possession of alcohol and public intoxication.
“If you knew that they had indulged a little too much, and you go ahead and call 911, we’re not gonna arrest you for calling us to get your roommate help,” Hinkle said.
The Texas Tech Police Department does not condone underage drinking, Hinkle said, but he is aware it is still going to happen. He said the most important things to keep in mind if you do plan on drinking are to have a safe, sober ride, know your limits and be responsible.
Alana Kiker/The Hub@TTU
“Don’t come back to campus actin’a fool,” Hinkle said. “Don’t be ripping stuff off of doors, being really loud. That’s what draws attention to you, and that’s what gets us called.”
The most common reasons police are called to residence halls is because of noise coming from parties, assaults and odors from drug use, Hinkle said. When an officer does encounter drinking on campus, it is the officer’s decision whether they will give a student a warning, a ticket or take them to jail.
He said there is a common misconception among students that police officers hang out at residence halls, waiting for drunk students to return and issue them citations.
“That’s just not the case,” he said.
There was once a police substation near Chitwood, but according to University Student Housing, it is now only used for office space and storage.
The student executives said they also want to dispel rumors about police waiting outside of residence halls.
“Their main objective, from now until the end of time, is to keep students safe,” DeRossi said.
A frozen half and half strawberry margarita from Chimy’s. Maddy McCarty/The Hub@TTU
He said it will be a joint effort between the police department, SGA and student housing to create a safer alcohol culture on campus. Students should treat their dorm as their homes, DeRossi said, and see them as places of safety.
“If you hear a police officer is stationed at Murdough every night, you’re not going to go back there,” he said.
The Student Body President said freshman year is a time many students find their identities and experiment with things like alcohol.
He said if freshmen are afraid of getting a ticket when returning to their residence halls, they might stay at parties with people they do not know well and drink more alcohol than intended.
“By decreasing the focus on getting those tickets, we will enable the safety of all these students,” Sharp said.
Freshman year is a delicate stage in many students lives, DeRossi said, and receiving a ticket can be detrimental.
Nicole Crites drinking a rocks strawberry margarita from Chimy’s.
“Let’s say two weeks into my Texas Tech education, I get arrested,” he said. “My parents are going to lose their minds, like everyone else’s parents.”
Hinkle said minor in possession/consumption of alcohol and public intoxication tickets are class C misdemeanors in Texas, which is the same class as a speeding ticket.
He said most first time offenders will end up with a fine less than $500 and will be required to complete alcohol awareness programs. But for incidents on campus, students also face consequences through the Office of Student Conduct.
According to the campus crime report, the number of alcohol infractions on campus have steadily decreased from 2012 to 2014. Hinkle said he does not know if the data from 2015 will show the same trend.
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