STUDENT ALCOHOL SANCTIONS AT UW-MADISON
Depending on factors such as the student's behavior, level of impairment and degree of disruption to him/herself or others, a student may experience one or more of the following sanctions as a result of consuming alcohol:
Badger Alcohol Check
In fall 2007, the Division of Student Life launched a program intended to curb students’ excessive drinking at Badger football games. “Badger Alcohol Check” requires all students with a prior ejection or citation at a home football game to blow into a portable Breathalyzer test before a game to prove their sobriety before being admitted. Underage students must blow a 0.00 for admittance, while students of legal drinking age need to blow below the legal limit of 0.08. The total number of citations at home football games has decreased in each of the past two years.
BASICS
Click here to learn more about BASICS.
Conduct Violations
The Dean of Students Office (DoSO) in the Division of Student Life administers the UW System Code of Conduct, the document governing behavior on university property and by university students. The office also offers assistance to students who need advocacy or referrals to services on or off campus. Assistant deans talk with several hundred students each year about alcohol use or abuse, as well as the behaviors that often accompany excessive alcohol consumption.
If a student is arrested or cited for possession of alcohol or is found to have consumed alcohol in an illegal, unsafe and/or irresponsible manner — particularly on university property — it is a violation of the University of Wisconsin System Code of Conduct and may be referred to Student Assistance and Judicial Affairs. Students who harass, intimidate or assault another student while using alcohol may also be referred to DoSO for violating the Code of Conduct.
While one violation of this nature may result in a warning or reprimand, multiple violations or first violations with other dangerous behavior could result in disciplinary probation, suspension or expulsion from the university or dismissal from University Housing. These more serious disciplinary sanctions are recorded on a student's transcript and can be viewed by potential graduate programs or employers.
Detox Transport
Excessive alcohol use can lead to serious medical consequences, including injuries from falls and traffic accidents, frostbite and hypothermia, and death from alcohol poisoning. When UWPD or MPD officers encounter a student who is nonresponsive, disoriented and unable to answer simple questions or otherwise determined to pose a risk to himself or herself, the officers may transport the student to a detoxification facility or hospital emergency room for medical monitoring. The minimum length of stay in the detox facility is 12 hours.
In general, students who are transported to detox or a hospital have a high blood alcohol content (BAC); however, transport judgments are made based on factors such as level of responsiveness, regardless of BAC.
During the 2010–2011 academic year, UW Police transported 133 students to the local detox center. This number does not include students who were taken to a detox facility or a local emergency room by city police or paramedics.
Students will be billed $407 (fall 2011) for each transport to the detox center. Students are responsible for emergency room charges.
Legal Consequences
Citations for underage drinking, possession of a fake ID, and other alcohol-related violations may be issued by the University of Wisconsin Police Department (UWPD) or the City of Madison Police Department (MPD). In both cases, they have the full force of law and are not just “disciplinary reminders” that will disappear upon graduation. Fines must be paid and court-ordered sanctions must be fulfilled.
Both the University Police and the City of Madison notify the Dean of Students office of any students who receive alcohol-related citations from the Madison Police Department.
Be aware that alcohol is often a contributing factor in other crimes, including vandalism, disorderly conduct, robbery, assault and battery, driving while intoxicated, and sexual assault. Reduce your chances of becoming a perpetrator or victim of such crimes by using alcohol in a moderate and responsible manner.
| Sample Fines (as of Fall 2011) | |
|---|---|
| Underage drinking citation | $263.50 (first offense) |
| Possession of fake ID | $500 |
| Providing alcohol to underage persons | $361 (first offense) |
| Providing alcohol to underage persons | Jail (second offense) |
Parent/Guardian Notification
When a student under 21 is taken to a detox facility, the Division of Student Life or University Housing may contact parents to enlist their assistance in curbing this level of dangerous behavior.