ABC grants JMU $7,500 to fight underage drinking

The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control gave the JMU Police Department a $7,500 grant in July through the ABC’s Operation Undergrad initiative that works to fight underage drinking on Virginia campus communities.

Whitney Miller, public relations coordinator for ABC, said that 12 campus communities across the state applied for the grant; seven schools received money, including JMU, George Mason University and Virginia Tech.

Miller said JMU was selected because of its "ability to reach a large number of people through the program" and its "decision to tackle the issue of social providers of alcohol.

"So often, underage students who want alcohol will either attempt to have a friend buy alcohol for them or use fake IDs to purchase it," Miller said. "JMU has decided to arm students with information on alcohol laws in Virginia."

As part of the grant, JMU police will produce and distribute alcohol poisoning awareness cards, hold training sessions for Greek organizations regarding alcohol laws and policies and work to reduce alcohol violations by minors, Miller said.

Fred Hilton, director of media relations, said, "underage drinking and binge drinking are problems at college campuses throughout the country. Like other colleges and universities, JMU is taking a number of steps to combat those problems."

"It’s fantastic that we received the grant," student body president Tom Culligan said. Culligan and members of the Student Government Association’s Executive Council went door to door in Forest Hills last Thursday to provide residents with information regarding block parties, Culligan said.

Culligan said the effort was to raise awareness about non-JMU students who may commute to block parties and cause disturbances.

Representatives from the Harrisonburg Police Department and the Office of Judicial Affairs accompanied Culligan and the SGA.

"This is a big effort to just try and educate, not exactly stop [partying]," Culligan said.

As part of their training this year, First yeaR Orientation Guides received warnings from representatives of Judicial Affairs.

Junior Kristine Cobb said that the presentation by Judicial Affairs was aimed to make sure that the FROGs knew about the three strike and alcohol policies. "A lot of emphasis was put on keeping freshmen on campus at night," she said.

Sophomore Christopher Evans, a resident adviser in Chappelear Hall, also received training. A role-playing game called "Behind Closed Doors" trained the RAs how to recognize alcohol poisoning, partying in rooms and games of beer pong.