JMU is determined to change its alcohol culture by implementing new enforcement and education programs from the start of the year and by keeping Springfest on the forefront of everyone’s minds, according to President Linwood Rose.
April’s block party-turned-riot was the “tipping point” and the culmination of many alcohol problems, according to administrators who met with local media Wednesday after Rose sent a mass e-mail to the JMU community. Students also received a blast text message telling them to check their inboxes for Rose’s e-mail.
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Administrators have been reviewing what happened during the April 10 off-campus event, what led to the escalation of the problems and how to prevent future incidents.
Two JMU police officers will patrol off- and on-campus on weekend nights; last year, zero officers patrolled, according to Mark Warner, senior vice president for Student Affairs and University Planning.
Harrisonburg police will also have more officers patrolling during typically busy party weekends, according to Kurt Hodgen, Harrisonburg city manager.
Undercover ABC agents will also be enforcing illegal “host” behavior at off-campus gatherings. Violations could include serving underage guests and having an improper keg registration.
The university will also review its three-strike policy this fall to give stricter punishments to students with alcohol violations after their first or second strike. Starting now, the university will also notify parents after students get their first alcohol violation, instead of the previous policy where parents weren’t notified until a second violation.
Read the full story at the James Madison Breeze.
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