SPRINGFIELD -- Drury University says it no longer will allow students to use “hard liquor” on campus.  That rule change is one of the consequences of a party that a sheriff says two fraternities, Sigma Nu and Kappa Alpha, held on private property in Stone County on Sept. 13.

   A freshman from Camdenton nearly died at the party from alcohol poisoning and is now recovering at home after being treated at a hospital.  The freshman is one of 16 people at the party between the ages of 17 and 20 who are charged with possessing alcohol or having a blood alcohol level higher than .02 percent.

  Drury issued a news release on Tuesday afternoon about its response to the party.  Immediately afterwards, a university spokesman said he would not consent to an interview to answer questions about the discipline the students and fraternities face, the reason for singling out “hard liquor” and not beer or wine in the new policy, and other questions.

Here’s the news release:

Drury University is gravely concerned with the epidemic of binge drinking among college students. A 14-year study by the Harvard School of Public Health revealed that two-in-five college students binge drink. Binge drinking is defined as five drinks in a row by males and four in a row by a female.

Even though the Sept. 13 incident that left one student hospitalized was independently organized and took place off-campus, Drury’s internal investigation revealed a need for specific sanctions and policy amendments. Drury will take the following actions:

·        No hard liquor will be allowed on campus for students of any age. This is a change in policy regarding students over the age of 21. This is in direct response to the national binge drinking epidemic and the near-tragedy of Sept. 13. Drury is still a wet campus, but only beer and wine will be allowed. This rule includes non-student functions.

·        Drury will continue its efforts to prevent underage drinking.

·        All fraternity and sorority members will be required to attend a campus forum on binge drinking.

·        Members of all Greek organizations are required to attend alcohol education courses.

·        Greek organization policies will be revised to address off-campus venues, sanctions against those who contribute to the intoxication of minors and recruitment policies including Bid week and Bid day events.

·        Each fraternity and sorority has submitted a written plan to Drury President Todd Parnell outlining strategies to prevent this from happening again. Incoming fraternity and sorority officers will sign the plans each year.

·        A letter signed by the president, dean of students and the director of Greek life will be sent to the parents of all students involved in Greek organizations explaining what happened and what will be done to address the problem of binge drinking.

·        Drury supports the temporary suspension of two fraternities by their national offices pending a full investigation. Two other fraternities will perform public service and pay fines.

·        A number of Drury students will be disciplined in accordance with their level of involvement in the Sept. 13 off-campus event.

Names of students and organizations have been withheld due to privacy regulations. Drury University is now dealing with this as an internal matter, and this is the final comment the university will have on this incident. We ask that you respect Drury’s privacy at this time.