• Furman's Alcohol Policy
• Why a Dry Campus Alcohol Policy?
• Furman's Drug Policy
• Furman's Sexual Assault Policy
• Parental Notification
• Behavioral Intervention (Amnesty Policy)

* All University policies are published annually in The Helmsman.

The ban on alcoholic beverages in the campus residential and educational facilities reflects the reality that too many college students, often legally and underage, drink to excess. Such alcohol abuse can lead to violence, sexual assaults, accidents, vandalism, false fire alarms and other inappropriate and dangerous behavior. In a Carnegie Foundation survey, college presidents cited student alcohol abuse as the foremost campus problem, the cause of rising legal liabilities and associated expenses, and the precipitant for numerous tragic deaths. Furman's alcohol policy, therefore, grows out of the university's commitment to maintain a campus environment that supports the educational program and promotes the general welfare of the university community.

The possession and or use of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in all campus locations except as listed below.  Alcohol containers may be deemed as evidence of consumption and are prohibited.  This includes, but is not limited to, bongs and funnels.

Consumption of alcoholic beverages by students 21 and over will be permitted for University approved catered or special group events at the following facilities:

1. Cherrydale Alumni House;
2. Timmons Arena;
3. Furman University Golf Course; and
4. Younts Conference Center

Substance Abuse:  The possession or use of alcoholic beverages on or in university property is prohibited.  In addition, students are subject to all state, federal and local regulations concerning the use of alcoholic beverages. Unbecoming behavior or any conduct violation committed by a student under the influence of alcohol will be dealt with severely. South Carolina state law requires that anyone possessing or consuming an alcoholic beverage be 21 years of age or older.

• Alcohol abuse is a major problem on most college campuses.  Several colleges and universities are implementing dry alcohol policies.  Research does not show colleges and universities changing from dry campus policies to wet campus policies.
• The policy grows out of the University's commitment to maintain a campus environment that supports the educational program and promotes the general welfare of the university community.
• More than 75% of Furman's student body are NOT of a legal drinking age, thus should not possess or consume alcohol anyway.
• Wechsler et al. (2001) show that students on dry campuses were 30% less likely to be heavy episodic drinkers, regardless of alcohol consumption in high school, and more likely to abstain from alcohol.  Fewer students on dry campuses experienced secondhand effects of the drinking of others than did students at schools that did not ban alcohol.  Students on dry campuses were less likely to drink and drive than were students at schools that did not ban alcohol.
• Data shows that Furman students have significantly less problematic experiences as a result of drinking compared to college students nationally in the following areas:
  • DUI, arrests, damage to property, arguments and fights, suicide, injuries, sexual assault, poor performance on a test, missing class, memory loss, nausea, vomiting, and hangovers.
• Data shows that 11% fewer Furman students have driven while under the influence compared to college students nationally.
• Data shows that 14% fewer Furman students reported binge drinking in the previous two weeks compared to college students nationally.
• Data shows that 20% fewer underage Furman students have consumed alcohol in the past 30 days compared to college students nationally.
• If consistently enforced, any mixed messages about Furman's alcohol policies are significantly diminished (Cassidy, 2005). 
• It provides clearer parameters for those individuals responsible for enforcing the alcohol policy (Cassidy, 2005).

          Cassidy, J. F. (2005).  Perceived barriers and benefits to addressing ecological factors on a campus with a dry campus alcohol policy. Dissertation Abstracts International, 67, 5A. (UMI No. 3217997)

          Wechsler, H., Lee, J. E., Gledhill-Hoyt, J., & Nelson, T. F. (2001).  Alcohol use and problems at colleges banning alcohol: Results on a national study [Electronic version].  Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 62 (2), 133-141.

The unlawful possession and/or unlawful use of drugs is prohibited. Students may not make such drugs available to other persons. Students may not use or possess drug paraphernalia, including but not limited to hookahs and other smoking devices.

Sexual assault is prohibited. Sexual assault can include, but is not limited, to the following definition:

1. non-consensual and deliberate sexual touching;
2. non-consensual penetration through the use of coercion;
3. non-consensual penetration through the use of force (such as physical force or weapon);
4. non-consensual penetration because of incapacitation and inability to give consent due to use of drug(s) including the use of alcohol. The drug may or may not have been administered by the accused student and could be consumed by the complainant of his/her own volition.

The university reserves the right to notify parents of those students under age 21 of violations of campus drug and alcohol policy in compliance with FERPA regulations.

In response to the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, the University strives to maintain a balance between student support and accountability. While it believes strongly in addressing student health concerns directly and confronting dangerous behaviors, the University also encourages students to seek help in situations where a student's health is endangered.  The University's first priority in these cases is to encourage student safety, and believes it is important for students to receive both immediate attention in dangerous situations as well as follow-up support to encourage more healthy behaviors.

1. Students who receive medical attention as a result of dangerous behaviors, such as but not limited to alcohol and/or other drug abuse, will be granted amnesty from the University's adjudication process, required to meet with a Behavioral Intervention Committee (BIC) member, and given an opportunity to comply with education-related recommendations. These incidents must have been reported to University officials, such as Student Services, University Housing, Public Safety, Counseling Center, or Health Services.
2. Students who obtain medical attention for their peer(s) as a result of dangerous behaviors will also be granted amnesty from the University's adjudication process, may be required to meet with a Behavioral Intervention Committee (BIC) member, and given an opportunity to comply with education-related recommendations.
3. At this meeting, the BIC member will have a conversation intended to support student development through educational means and will recommend a specific course of action for that student to avoid being charged with disorderly conduct.
4. This course of action may include notifying parents, attending an alcohol education program, or any other recommendation deemed appropriate by the BIC member. Should the student follow through appropriately, such a meeting will not be a part of their judicial record, rather a "for information only" (FIO) record. Students who fail or refuse to follow through with these recommendations may be charged with disorderly conduct and be adjudicated through the University's judicial process.
5. Students found responsible for violating policies for which they were previously granted amnesty, will be adjudicated for those violations. In addition, the FIO record will then become part of the judicial record.
6. This amnesty policy only applies to University policies and cannot negate any criminal charges.