In response to six alcohol-related student deaths in two years, the University of Wisconsin-Stout will attempt to combat binge drinking by increasing the number of Friday classes in fall 2010.

Chancellor Charles Sorensen announced the plan in a memo March 30 to increase the number of Friday classes to discourage drinking on Thursday nights, as well as to alleviate scheduling issues. The university will also increase its enforcement and discipline of underage-drinking laws. Student reactions about the decision are mixed.

The university currently offers about 38 percent of classes on Fridays, versus double that number on Monday through Thursday, Sorensen said.

The increase in Friday classes is aimed at reducing the participation in Thursday night drinking, commonly called “Thirsty Thursday.” Having classes on Fridays will hopefully persuade the students to drink less or nothing on Thursdays, said university spokesman Doug Mell.

“When there was another incident of a student’s death due to alcohol, the university’s chancellor asked the Senate to factor curbing dangerous binge drinking as an urgency in supporting full schedule of Friday classes,” said Abel Adekola, a faculty senate chair.

UW-Stout has experienced six alcohol-related deaths in the past two years, Adekola said. Three students were killed in a house fire, two in a motorcycle accident and one was struck by a car driven by a fellow intoxicated UW-Stout student, he said.

“I think it’s a moral obligation, an ethical obligation from campus leaders,” Sorenson said.

In addition to combating binge drinking, the increase in Friday classes will also help solve scheduling problems. The university deemed it necessary to offer more sections on Fridays because of growing enrollment, said Julie Furst-Bowe, the university provost.

Also, recent construction has left 11 classrooms unavailable, creating scheduling problems for students across campus, Sorensen said.

“It would increase the availability for students to schedule classes that right now they wouldn’t normally be able to schedule,” Mell said.

Students will not be forced to take Friday classes. Students at UW-Stout schedule online and will still have the power to choose whether they want classes on Friday, Mell said.

The UW-Stout administration is stressing this solution is not meant to completely prohibit drinking, but rather encourage responsible drinking practices, Sorensen said.

“These proposals are not aimed at eliminating alcohol abuse. We’re not naive,” Mell said.

In addition to scheduling more Friday classes, the administration will implement a number of programs to curb binge drinking. Plans include a campus-community alcohol coalition called “Smart and Healthy” and increasing disciplinary action. Among the heightened disciplinary actions, students caught using fake IDs, hosting large house parties or repeatedly drinking underage will face the possibility of expulsion, Mell said.

The university called on the surrounding community to help with these efforts. Sorensen has aimed to reduce drink specials at local bars and asked landlords to take harsher action on those tenants who throw house parties, Mell said.

The instatement of Friday classes aroused mixed reactions.

Some students said they think Fridays completely free of classes are already somewhat unrealistic with the current schedule.

“I personally have never had a semester without Friday classes,” said Steve Schumacher, a senior business administration major. “In fact, I have had between three to four classes that were scheduled on Fridays every regular session.”

Other students who frequently use Fridays for free time said they oppose the decision.

Backlash has occurred on Facebook in the form of protest groups. Anger toward the Chancellor has led to drink specials at local bars in honor of Sorensen, Schumacher said.

“Personally, I am against the addition of new sections,” said Rachel Steward, a senior hotel, restaurant, and tourism major. “I feel that it would take away a day I use to work more and also go home.”

Despite the opposition, Sorenson said the administration plans on maintaining the fall’s proposed schedule indefinitely.

“No matter what happens with the issue of drinking,” Sorenson said, “we will maintain a five-day week schedule.”

 

Published on April 12, 2010 at 12:00 pm