Student Handbook College Alcohol Policy

Responsibilities
It is possible that social life at the College may include the use of alcohol and the College expects members of the RMC community to use alcoholic beverages in a responsible manner. Students 21 years of age or older may choose to consume alcoholic beverages and are expected to do so in moderation.

This responsibility is understood to mean the following:

• Knowing and abiding by College policy and federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Becoming informed about the complexities and the risks, both personal and social, associated with the use of alcohol. This includes knowledge on the part of student organizations about social host liabilities and policies.
• Recognizing and accepting as legitimate/appropriate a decision not to use alcoholic beverages, whether as a matter of principle or whether as a matter of convenience, and respecting the rights of non-users by providing suitable and appealing non-alcoholic beverages at social events.
• Being sensitive to the needs of students who experience problems as a result of irresponsible use of alcoholic beverages, by encouraging moderation, or supporting students in a decision to refrain from alcohol use.
• Discouraging students from driving motor vehicles, or otherwise endangering themselves and others, after they have been drinking, and helping students to contact appropriate sources of assistance for alcohol-related problems.

Regulations Governing Student Conduct – Alcohol
The Student Conduct Code and other College policies of Randolph-Macon College include policies restricting the use of alcohol and other alcohol-related beverages.

Persons under 21 are prohibited from possessing or using alcoholic beverages. Those 21 and
older are permitted the privilege of possessing and using alcoholic beverages in moderation in specifically designated places or at specifically designated functions as indicated; the possession or use of alcoholic beverages is permitted only by persons who are 21 years of age or older AND only as follows:

In a student campus residential room with the door closed AND:

One or both of the room’s assigned residents are age 21 or older AND the room is not in a residential area designated to be alcohol free.

Inside apartments in accordance with the terms of the residential agreement and other guidelines established by the Student Engagement Center.

In other residential locations on occasion and in accordance with guidelines established by the Student Engagement Center and the Dean of Students Office.

In licensed locations on special occasions for the time, place and area defined in a banquet license and in accordance with the College’s Risk Management and Social Host Policy.

Medical Amnesty Policy

The health and safety of all students is Randolph-Macon College’s primary concern including instances of intoxication, overdose, and/or alcohol poisoning. The potential for student conduct sanctions can deter students from seeking medical attention for themselves or others in cases of intoxication, overdose, and/or alcohol poisoning. In order to encourage students to seek help for their peers and themselves, as well as, to remove barriers that prevent students from seeking medical attention, the College has instituted this medical amnesty policy.  The medical amnesty policy applies to all students who seek medical help for themselves and their peers for intoxication, overdose, and/or alcohol poisoning particularly in cases where students are victims of hazing, violence, assault, or other crimes.

The Policy Information

A student who actively seeks medical attention for another student or for their own person due to intoxication or overdose may do so without fear of formal College sanction for violation of the College policies related to illegal use or possession of alcohol or other drugs.  Students granted medical amnesty are required to complete an evaluation and any other recommended treatment at the Center for Counseling Services within a time frame determined by the Office of the Dean of Students.  The Office of the Dean of Students may require the student to participate in the drafting of and adherence to a Behavioral Contract Agreement following the use of the Medical Amnesty Policy.  Failure to complete the evaluation, other recommended treatment, or violation of the Behavioral Contract Agreement will result in student conduct action.  The College reserves the right to take administrative student conduct action in any case that involves the unlawful provision of illegal controlled substances or drugs from one person to another. 

Resources 

If you or another individual are experiencing a medical emergency related to alcohol or other drugs contact the Office of Campus Safety immediately at 804-752-4710 or “0” from an on-campus phone.

Health Risks
Alcohol consumption causes a number of marked changes in behavior. Even low doses significantly impair the judgment and coordination required to drive a car safely, increasing the likelihood that the driver will be involved in an accident. Low to moderate doses of alcohol also increase the incidence of a variety of aggressive acts, including spouse and child abuse. Moderate to high doses of alcohol cause marked impairments in higher mental functions, severely altering a person’s ability to learn and remember information. Very high doses cause respiratory depression and death. If combined with other depressants of the central nervous system, much lower doses of alcohol will produce the effects just described.

Repeated use of alcohol can lead to dependence. Sudden cessation of alcohol intake is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms, including severe anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, and convulsions. Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. Long-term consumption of large quantities of alcohol particularly, when combined with poor nutrition, can also lead to permanent damage to vital organs such as the brain and the liver.

Mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy may give birth to infants with fetal alcohol syndrome. These infants have irreversible physical abnormalities and mental retardation. In addition, research indicates that children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk than other youngsters of becoming alcoholics. (What Works: Schools Without Drugs, 1989 edition).

Counseling, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Services
Students are urged to seek assistance for drug and alcohol related problems.  Students may seek assistance in identifying appropriate resources from the College’s Counseling Center.  Any inquiries will be treated confidentially.

Drug and alcohol counseling, treatment, or rehabilitation services are available in the community to students.

Prohibited Conduct
(See the Student Conduct Code and the Risk Management and Social Host Policy)

Enforcement
The enforcement and operation of this policy is within the purview of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students who may be reached at 804-752-7266 or gazdell@rmc.edu and delegated to the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Associate Dean of Students who may be reached at 804-752-3205 or jamesmcghee@rmc.edu.

The full range of sanctions are available to the appropriate decision making body or administrator in the resolution of violations of the Student Conduct Code.  A single incident may result in more than one violation in which case the sanctions are cumulative. Second violations typically will involve more, in terms of sanctions, than a first violation and may include referral to a Board-certified and licensed mental health professional for a substance abuse evaluation.  Third violations will be evaluated by the decision-making body, and the sanctions will be more severe than a second violation. The full range of sanctions remains available to the decision-making body. The evaluation and assignment of sanctions will be based on the merits of the case and the impact of the violation(s). Violations are cumulative over the entire period of a student’s matriculation. Violations of federal, state or local laws may or may not be referred to local law enforcement as well as be resolved under the provisions of the Student Conduct Code.

Social Host Policy
(See the Risk Management and Social Host Policy)

Policy Review
Randolph-Macon College will review this policy biennially, at a minimum, to determine its effectiveness and to recommend changes in the program to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students if they are needed. Such a review will also confirm that the College’s disciplinary sanctions are consistently enforced. 

Code of the Commonwealth of Virginia

§ 4.1-305

Purchasing or possessing alcoholic beverages unlawful in certain cases; venue; exceptions; penalty; forfeiture; deferred proceedings; treatment and education programs and services

A. No person to whom an alcoholic beverage may not lawfully be sold under § 4.1-304 shall consume, purchase or possess, or attempt to consume, purchase or possess, any alcoholic beverage, except (i) pursuant to subdivisions 1 through 7 of § 4.1-200; (ii) where possession of the alcoholic beverages by a person less than 21 years of age is due to such person’s making a delivery of alcoholic beverages in pursuance of his employment or an order of his parent; or (iii) by any state, federal, or local law-enforcement officer or his agent when possession of an alcoholic beverage is necessary in the performance of his duties. Such person may be prosecuted either in the county or city in which the alcohol was possessed or consumed, or in the county or city in which the person exhibits evidence of physical indicia of consumption of alcohol. It shall be an affirmative defense to a charge of a violation of this subsection if the defendant shows that such consumption or possession was pursuant to subdivision 7 of § 4.1-200. 

B. No person under the age of 21 years shall use or attempt to use any (i) altered, fictitious, facsimile or simulated license to operate a motor vehicle, (ii) altered, fictitious, facsimile or simulated document, including, but not limited to a birth certificate or student identification card, or (iii) motor vehicle operator’s license, birth certificate or student identification card of another person in order to establish a false identification or false age for himself to consume, purchase or attempt to consume or purchase an alcoholic beverage. 

C. Any person found guilty of a violation of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor; and upon conviction, (i) such person shall be ordered to pay a mandatory minimum fine of $ 500 or ordered to perform a mandatory minimum of 50 hours of community service as a condition of probation supervision and (ii) the license to operate a motor vehicle in the Commonwealth of any such person age 18 or older shall be suspended for a period of not less than six months and not more than one year; the license to operate a motor vehicle in the Commonwealth of any juvenile shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of § 16.1-278.9. The court, in its discretion and upon a demonstration of hardship, may authorize an adult convicted of a violation of this section the use of a restricted permit to operate a motor vehicle in accordance with the provisions of subsection E of § 18.2-271.1 or when referred to a local community-based probation services agency established pursuant to Article 9 (§ 9.1-173 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1. During the period of license suspension, the court may require an adult who is issued a restricted permit under the provisions of this subsection to be (a) monitored by an alcohol safety action program, or (b) supervised by a local community-based probation services agency established pursuant to Article 9 (§ 9.1-173 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1, if one has been established for the locality. The alcohol safety action program or local community-based probation services agency shall report to the county violation of the terms of the restricted permit, the required alcohol safety action program monitoring or local community-based probation services and any condition related thereto or any failure to remain alcohol-free during the suspension period.

D. Any alcoholic beverage purchased or possessed in violation of this section shall be deemed contraband and forfeited to the Commonwealth in accordance with § 4.1-338. 

E. Any retail licensee who in good faith promptly notifies the Board or any state or local law-enforcement agency of a violation or suspected violation of this section shall be accorded immunity from an administrative penalty for a violation of § 4.1-304. 

F. When any adult who has not previously been convicted of under aged consumption, purchase or possession of alcoholic beverages in Virginia or any other state or the United States is before the court, the court may, upon entry of a plea of guilty or not guilty, if the facts found by the court would justify a finding of guilt of a violation of subsection A, without entering a judgment of guilt and with the consent of the accused, defer further proceedings and place him on probation subject to appropriate conditions. Such conditions may include the imposition of the license suspension and restricted license provisions in subsection C. However, in all such deferred proceedings, the court shall require the accused to enter a treatment or education program or both, if available, that in the opinion of the court best suits the needs of the accused. If the accused is placed on local community-based probation, the program or services shall be located in any of the judicial districts served by the local community-based probation services agency or in any judicial district ordered by the court when the placement is with an alcohol safety action program. The services shall be provided by (i) a program licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, (ii) certified by the Commission on VASAP, or (iii) by a program or services made available through a community-based probation services agency established pursuant to Article 9 (§ 9.1-173 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1, if one has been established for the locality. When an offender is ordered to a local community-based probation services rather than the alcohol safety action program, the local community-based probation services agency shall be responsible for providing for services or referring the offender to education or treatment services as a condition of probation. Upon violation of a condition, the court may enter an adjudication of guilt and proceed as otherwise provided. Upon fulfillment of the conditions, the court shall discharge the person and dismiss the proceedings against him without an adjudication of guilt. A discharge and dismissal hereunder shall be treated as a conviction for the purpose of applying this section in any subsequent proceedings. When any juvenile is found to have committed a violation of subsection A, the disposition of the case shall be handled according to the provisions of Article 9 (§ 16.1-278 et seq.) of Chapter 11 of Title 16.1. 

Randolph-Macon College does not condone or tolerate the use/abuse of illegal drugs.