By Dylan Nice / Editor-in-chief

UPG has always been a dry campus and this semester it got drier. Stiffer fines and attitudes are being used to crack down on drinking on campus.

The rumor that UPG is now prosecuting all alcohol violations through the local district magistrate is false, says Leigh Hoffman, assistant dean of student services. Students found in violation of the alcohol policy are still being referred to P.R.I.D.E. and not to the county.

But there are ways for a student to end up in a courtroom and Hoffman says the administration is trying to make students more aware of this.

“We’ve always reserved the right to cite students for underage drinking, but we won’t do that unless there’s a problem,” says Hoffman.

Such problems include disorderly behavior and providing alcohol to minors if the resident is 21-years-old. First time offenders shouldn’t worry about legal ramifications. While one policy violation may not be cause for alarm according to the 2007-2008 student handbook, research tends to show that two or more may indicate a substance abuse or dependency problem.

“We’re looking for multiple offenders and people who are disorderly and clearly intoxicated,” says Tom Horan, director of campus safety and security.

“The policy hasn’t changed. We’re stepping up enforcement.”

Changes in the policy include increased fines of $50 for first offense and if a violation takes place within the last three weeks of a term, five hours of community service will be imposed in addition to the fine and there will be parental notification, according to the Hoffman.

An increase in alcohol violations last year was noted by both Hoffman and Horan, prompting student services to contact other Pitt campuses to compare notes.

“A number of them have equivalent sanctions” said Hoffman. “We felt that increasing the fine would be more of a deterrent.”

The additional sanctions placed on a student violating the policy within the last three weeks of terms comes about from students behaving like it was the last day of high school, Hoffman said.

“We ran into issues with students feeling like they could be belligerent,” Hoffman said.

Horan says such behavior becomes unfair to regular students sitting in residence hall common areas or studying. According to Horan, security was dealing with the same students in April as they were at the beginning of last year.

“I’m not going to do it this year,” says Horan.