Is Drake Party Central?
Drake Students, Officials Express Diverse Views of Underage Drinking
Des Moines, Iowa (Jan. 31, 1997)-- An athletic male casually walks up to the bouncer, flashes his older girlfriend's ID and is allowed into the bar...
A cute blonde gets her hand stamped at a frat party because she is under age. But she flirts with the bartender and prances away with a beer in each hand...
Two freshmen have turned their dorm room into "party central." Even though RAs check on the room, the students have hiding places for their liquor and never get caught...
Although Drake dorms, fraternities and local bars supposedly uphold the Iowa law stating that "no person shall sell, give, or otherwise supply alcoholic liquor, wine or beer to any person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that person to be under age 21," alcohol is readily available to under-age students and is considered to be a normal part of college life.
Students often purchase alcohol from a local grocery store or gas station and drink in their rooms before going out at night.
"The businesses around Drake usually don't card, so students can easily buy beer and bring it back to the dorms. But most people only drink moderately in the dorms. It's sort of 'pre-game' since the rooms don't lend themselves to actual parties," freshman Stephanie Cathcart (AS1) said.
Joe Ledesma, Goodwin-Kirk residence hall director, acknowledged that students drink in the dorms, but said that resident assistants have been trained to spot illegal alcohol use.
"There are certain signs that RAs look for when it comes to alcohol," he said. "Most alcohol situations stem through noise. An RA has to ask students to keep it down and find alcohol in the process. They may also smell alcohol or hear people say things like 'chug it, chug it.'"
Freshman Renee Jagielnik said that although resident assistants try to enforce the drinking policy, their effort is often futile.
"I think they try to act tough on drinking, but it is still done. There is no way RAs can monitor what every under-age student is doing - or drinking," she said.
After this "pre-game ritual," students venture out to the area bars or fraternity houses. However, Chip Coil, owner of The Library Cafe, said that under-age individuals rarely make their way into his bar.
"On busy nights students will try to get in. But the doormen are very good at catching fakes . They've been on the other side also, so they know what they're looking for," he said.
Jagielnik adamantly disagreed.
"The bars around Drake never card. I always just walk right in; no one ever says a word," she said.
If bartenders or doormen do card, they seem to be very lenient.
"I actually got into a local bar using a woman's ID before," senior Mike Wendt, former Theta Chi Fraternity president, said.
Fraternities use several different measures to curb under-age drinking and reduce liability. All fraternities are required to card students and stamp the hands of those who are under 21 before they enter a party.
"We take carding very seriously because we don't want to get fined or sued. We definitely stick to the letter of the law," Wendt said.
However, senior Scott Meyers, president of Sigma Chi Fraternity, said that this policy is not always enforced.
"We can't always have over-age people at the door. Younger students will often let their friends in without carding them," he said.
Wendt said that the fraternity cannot be held responsible for students who use fake IDs to gain entrance into a party.
"We obviously aren't law officers, so we can't be held liable for people who use fakes. We don't necessarily know what to look for," he said.
Students are also required to bring their own beer to parties. They are then issued a punch card which is redeemable for the beer.
"We're really strict about having a punch card. We don't want random people coming in and getting beer. But people can use their friends cards to get beer, which can be a problem," Meyers said.
Jagielnik said that punch cards usually are not necessary, especially for women.
"I never bring my own beer, and there was only one time I even had a slight problem getting beer. I sweet-talked the bartender, and he eventually handed it over," she said. "If girls flirt enough, they can always drink for free."
The abundance of alcohol on and around campus perpetuates the idea that drinking is just a normal part of college life.
"Being able to get into bars and frat parties under age says that extensive drinking is no big deal. It makes drinking such a huge part of college culture that it goes to excess," said Scarlett Lunning, president of the Prevention Division at the National Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies in Des Moines.
This image is also reinforced by the mass media.
"A lot of students believe that drinking is college life. It's a really big misperception set up from the media and movies. It's a shame because there is so much more to college," Ledesma said.
Jagielnik agreed that the media have formed many of her perceptions of college and drinking.
"Drinking is really built up. So many movies like Animal House and P.C.U. are all about frats and drinking. And, judging from Drake, they really aren't too far off," she said.
Wendt agreed that this is not just an image, it is a reality.
"It's a sad commentary on life, but in college that's what you do," he said.
Because alcohol consumption is so "normal," students have a hard time determining whether or not they drink too much.
"It's one of the biggest traps of drinking. Everyone else is doing it so they don't know if they are developing a problem. People are often kidding themselves," Ledesma said. "I have run into several residents who didn't know they had a problem because it seemed so common. I just tried to help open their eyes."
Many students said they believe this has to do with the "newness" of college and usually dies down after freshman year.
"Most first-year students have never had so many opportunities to drink and party. After this first year, it should lose its appeal. I don't think we're all going to walk out of here alcoholics," Jagielnik said.
Ledesma agreed, saying"First-year students really experiment with alcohol. They can definitely develop a dependency because of its accessibility."
Drake does offer programs such as alcohol awareness week, guest speakers and counseling to help prevent alcohol abuse, but they are often viewed as a mixed message.
"To have been so lenient on alcohol, but then say 'don't drink it,' is really contradictory. But this is college. Students need to grow from these experiences," Meyers said.
Ledesma agreed. "I can see how students can see this as a mixed message. I would like to see less access to alcohol in settings outside of the dorm," he said.
The key to alcohol awareness programs is the promotion of moderation, not abstinence.
"People should promote the idea of responsibility. A 'just say no' campaign isn't going to work because of the way students view drinking in college. The best bet is to go for moderation," Wendt said.
Lunning said that the decision to drink is ultimately up to the students.
"Alcohol is obviously out there for the people who want it. So, I think adults need to calm down and let students make their own decisions," she said. "Drake students should work together to make this the healthiest place possible."
© 1997 CyberPress Communications, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Drake University 50311.
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