The Southeastern Oklahoma State University campus is dry, but students are still finding ways to sneak alcohol on campus.

Dean of Student Liz McCraw says that being dry is defined by Oklahoma law;[alcohol] is not permitted on the campus or at any on-campus activity sponsored by or for a student organization or any other university sponsored activity for students .

“Campus includes but is not limited to university housing including sorority and fraternity housing. Each university is authorized to develop and implement a policy regulating consumption of alcohol at officially sponsored off- campus activities,” McCraw added.

Dry campus is not just a SE policy, but also for the other five sister universities in the Oklahoma school system.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report was recently sent out to students and the numbers on liquor violations from 2013-2015 are increasing each year.

In 2015, 85 liquor violations in on campus student housing facilities that required disciplinary referral were obtained. Compared to 2014’s statistics which was only one.

The SE Chief of Police Stacey Ballew believes that the only reason that numbers were so low in 2014 were due to the Residential Advisors being relaxed.

Dean of Students, Liz McCraw states, “If there is a report of an off-campus party and 15 students were involved, that could add 15 separate liquor law violations and if there was more than one violation per person, that number would increase significantly.  It does not mean 85 separate individuals were found in violation.  It means that 85 separate violations were counted.”

The question of whether campus will ever become wet is an hot topic for some students and staff.

Senior, Tara Wood, feels that the policies in regards to drinking on campus isn’t fair for students who are 21 years old or older, such as herself.

“If I can go out and get a beer in town, why can’t I drink on campus,” Wood stated.

“If I’m being safe and responsible I don’t see why I can’t drink at Tailgate Alley. Especially during Homecoming events,” Woods added.

“With the majority of students on campus being underage, and underage drinking is against the law, I doubt that the policy will change any time soon.  I believe that teaching responsibility in all things are part of our charge and we will continue to look at ways to teach our students to be responsible,” McCraw stated.

For more information, the university’s Drug and Alcohol Prevention Program (DAAP) is available at http://www.se.edu/dept/student-wellness-services/files/2015/06/DAAPP-2016-FINAL.pdf.

“This outlines what measures are in place to notify students of policy and state law.  It also outlines the programs put into place to help student manage risk, education students on consequences and to create an opportunity for healthy decision-making,” concludes McCraw.

If you or anyone you know is in need of police assistance, don’t hesitate to call SE dispatch at 2911.