A few weeks ago, a Hillsdale College sophomore became so intoxicated he said he couldn't remember a series of events that ended with a police ride to the hospital.
The student, a resident of Simpson Hall whose name has been withheld by the Collegian, said he does not remember becoming irate and combative with several students in the dorm and a campus security officer before the police were called.
According to the police report, the student "had gotten out of control and needed to be restrained." On the scene, an officer had to use a Taser gun to get the student into the police car.
The student later learned his blood alcohol level at that point was approximately .315 percent. That night he was taken to the hospital for possible alcohol poisoning, the police report said. He was later cited with a Minor in Possession, a misdemeanor.
Also last month, a female Hillsdale College student was arrested after attempting to purchase alcohol with a fake ID.
Although Hillsdale College is not immune to incidents of alcohol abuse, Dean of Men Aaron Petersen said recent violations do not indicate an escalation of alcohol use or abuse on campus.
"The level of problems on campus seems to be no different than in years past, but this is purely anecdotal," he said. "We don't have a lot of comparative numbers."
Sue Wismar, house director of Simpson, is a former substance abuse therapist. She said that in her two years at the dorm, she believes alcohol consumption and alcohol-related incidents have actually declined.
"Each year I have less problems with it. There are always isolated incidents," she said. "There are a significant number of students here that do not drink at all. Most students who drink moderate themselves well-it's a small percent that do not."
At larger schools this semester, alcohol-related student fatalities have been reported across the nation, including at the University of Oklahoma, the University of Arkansas, Colorado State University, and Curry College in Boston.
"The thing that concerns me most about alcohol-related problems is the attitude that precedes the first drink," Petersen said, adding that at college, "mixing high energy levels with alcohol" can be a dangerous combination.
"You have to deal with over-consuming on an individual basis," Petersen said. "[binge drinkers] are not likely to acknowledge they have a problem unless it is brought to their attention."
The term "binge drinking" is generally defined as consistent consumption of five or more drinks in a row for men and four or more in a row for women.
At Colorado State University, the recent binge drinking deaths of 19-year-old sophomore honor student Samantha Spady and freshman fraternity pledge Lynn Gordon Bailey Jr. prompted the administration to ban all beer sales at its football stadium.
However, the Denver Post reported last month that since the ban, law enforcement problems have actually escalated.
CSU Campus Police Chief Dexter Yarborough is quoted saying, "The drinking has increased. People are coming to the stadium more intoxicated than they were before."
Hillsdale junior Ivan Heitmann said more stringent limitations on students only increase interest and rebellion.
"The more alcohol is characterized and enforced as a naughty, dangerous habit for adults only, the more it will be sensationalized and idolized by kids who aren't allowed to have it," Heitmann said.
Senior Noah Schellhammer said the problem at Hillsdale is that it lacks any program of education in the use, misuse, and possible dangers of alcohol.
"Alcohol is a definite part of everyday, normal life and it is a shame that again Hillsdale College falls short in contributing well-rounded and well-prepared people-not simply students-to society," he said.
Nearby Albion College-another Michigan liberal arts school, with a student population of approximately 1,670-is reacting to an apparent increase in alcohol abuse among students; this fall they had 11 cases of alcohol poisoning, where last year they reported only three.
Albion administration has responded by stiffening sanctions and bolstering their education and intervention program. They are also considering a possible prohibition of all hard liquor on campus.
At Ohio State University, students visiting from Michigan are warned of Ohio's harsher alcohol laws.
The Michigan Daily reported, "A student who cracks open a beer while tailgating in a public area in Columbus . could face a fine of up to $1000 and possibly six months in jail."
Although the 2004 Dayton Area Drug Survey (DADS) indicates a continuing decline in tobacco and marijuana use among young people, alcohol use has remained relatively consistent.
The Harvard School of Public Health released data this year indicating that even though more college students are living in alcohol-free housing and fewer are joining fraternities and sororities, binge drinking rates have remained constant over the past eight years.
At the University of Michigan, a recent study revealed that binge drinking there has actually increased, especially among undergraduate women.
"Harvard's study found that out of the traditional college students who drink-18 to 23-year-olds living away from home-seven of 10 acknowledge binge drinking in the past 30 days," according to the Centre Daily Times .
Heitmann said that students should enjoy alcohol but not use it to express rebellion or to "drown stress."
"While Hillsdale is definitely not a party school, no amount of regulation is going to eliminate irresponsible drinking," he said.