ATHENS Ohio
Ohio University’s new get-tough policy on student drinking
resulted in 32 percent fewer alcohol violations last school year, compared to
the same period a year before, school officials said.
“We not only saw a downward trend, we saw a significant
downward trend,” said Terry Hogan, the university’s dean of students.
But the number of drug cases mostly marijuana offenses rose
24 percent to 331 during the same period, a trend that university officials
said will result in a new marijuana policy for the 2007-2008 school year.
The university toughened its alcohol policies last fall to
include harsher penalties for drinking violations, with a mandatory $100 fee
for each offense.
Students are also required to attend an alcohol-education
class and can be put on probation for up to a year. Students who commit a
second violation are often suspended, a university statement said.
OU also contacts parents when students younger than the
legal drinking age are cited.
