Student Handbook 2007/08

Mailman Student Handbook 08-09

Supplemental Guidelines and Procedures to Implement the University Policy on Alcohol at the Medical Center

Tue, 08/28/2007 - 16:55 — dale

There are laws governing when and to whom alcohol may be served. There is a University policy on alcohol, which is part of a larger policy statement on alcohol, drugs, and smoking. All Medical Center students are expected to comply with the laws and with University policies. Copies of the University policies will be available in the student affairs office of each school and program of the Medical Center campus, in the Medical Center Office of Housing Services, and in the P&S Club.
Because this is a Medical Center campus, we have a particular responsibility to recognize that alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency are very serious personal and public health problems. All members of the Medical Center community are expected to be sensitive to the difference between responsible and irresponsible serving and consumption of beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages.
Because our campus is largely a graduate student campus, we operate on the presumption that our students are adults who are responsible for their own behavior, and the procedures we adopt reflect this fact. At the same time, as in the society at large, specific guidelines and procedures are necessary to clarify expectations of behavior and to protect and promote the welfare of the larger community. When alcohol is served at student sponsored events, the sponsoring students are responsible for assuring that moderation is exercised in the amount of alcohol purchased and served, and individual students are responsible for moderating their consumption. In compliance with University policy, no alcohol is to be served to a person who is disorderly or who is or appears to be intoxicated.
While most Medical Center students are over 21, not all are. State law prohibits the serving of alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. As prescribed by law and by University policy, no individual on the Medical Center campus shall be sold, served, given, or otherwise receive alcoholic beverages if that individual is not at least 21 years of age. Any student-sponsored function where there is a possibility of students attending who are not yet 21 must pay special attention to and comply with procedure number three in the section on procedures (see below).
Respect for personal and property rights must be maintained at student events where alcohol is served. When a student sponsored event takes place in a residence hall or other University space, there must be a designated student(s) responsible and accountable for assuring that University and Medical Center policies and procedures are known and complied with. Any damage to property resulting from disorderly or intoxicated conduct will be the financial responsibility of the students involved in such conduct. If the identity of such students cannot be determined, the group sponsoring the event during which property damage occurred will assume financial responsibility.

Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health. Student Handbook 2007|08