Proposed alcohol ordinance similar to TCNJ, Rider U.

Students at The College of New Jersey and Rider University might think twice about consuming alcohol if they're underage. Under alcohol ordinances in Ewing and Lawrence townships, police may enter a private residence and enforce underage drinking laws.

A proposed Princeton Borough alcohol ordinance, which would give local police the same authority, is being considered by community and University members as a supplement to existing University disciplinary measures.

However, the Princeton Alcohol and Drug Alliance — which is a substance abuse program for users that frequently serves as an adviser on alcohol and drug issues to local government — supports a different policy.

The alternative, put forward by an eating club representative, calls for security guards at each club entrance, training for club officers in first aid and preventing intoxication and underage drinking, as well as guaranteed nonalcoholic alternatives at the eating clubs. The proposal will be put to the Borough next month.

Lawrence Township police Lt. Charles Edgar said the alcohol ordinance deters students at Rider University from drinking even though it isn't enforced very often.

'Effective'

"I think it's pretty effective," Edgar said. "Word gets around that if you come get plastered at Rider and the police come and find you and charge you with this offense, the first fine is $250. And Rider can suspend or expel you as well."

Subsequent offenses lead to a fine of $350 and occasionally the suspension or postponement of driving privileges, said Etta Kimbrough, municipal county clerk in Ewing Township. Penalties in Lawrence and Ewing townships are identical.

Lawrence Township police only appear at the scene of the offense when called by independent security patrols, which Rider employs as a private university, said Keith Kemo, director of judicial affairs at Rider University. The university imposes disciplinary measures regardless of whether township police get involved, he said.

"We do have a three strike policy," Kemo said. "When a student violates the alcohol policy three times within a two year period they lose housing.

"The sanctions that they complete the first and second time are educational. The first strike involves an hour-long classroom session with members of the counseling center. The second is AlcoholEdu," Kemo said. "At every strike a monetary fine and community restitution is also enacted."

TCNJ policy

At TCNJ in Ewing Township, where sororities and fraternities do not own private houses, illegal alcohol consumption is still an issue for the campus and township police. Between 30 percent and 35 percent of students join either sororities or fraternities, said Dr. Jesse Rosenblum, associate vice president for college relations.

TCNJ implements a "first year experience program," Rosenblum said, which exposes students to various issues and provides them with information about alcohol.

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Staff members also work with college students residing off-campus, and the college intervenes when problems arise between students and the community, he said.

"We can only hope that all of this in aggregate does something to help the students," Rosenblum said.

Incidents of illegal alcohol consumption on TCNJ's campus do not reveal any specific trends, Don Rizzo, lieutenant of TCNJ's campus police said.

"It comes and goes, and it really depends on the class coming in," Rizzo said. "In regard to the campus, I can't say that it's necessarily worse or better than it has been in the past."

The alcohol ordinance might play a role in cleaning up the negative image that many universities have acquired as a result of excessive student drinking, Edgar said.

"Not only is it bad for their health, but it brings a bad name for Rider University," Edgar said. "They're doing the best they can to nip it in the bud."

Some New Jersey townships began implementing the alcohol ordinance after the state legislature made such ordinances lawful in June 2000.

"It started in a lot of beach towns, where they had a lot of private parties happening where people were under age," Edgar said. "It was known as the beach town drinking law."