Although students are informed about the potential disciplinary actions, it doesn’t always deter some underagers from sneaking alcohol into the residence halls.

On one of the first nights of each school year, community advisers round up the students on their floors and discuss the hall’s alcohol policy.

“Any time it causes a disturbance, it becomes a problem,” said Michael Stang, executive director of Housing and Dining. “We do our best to provide educational programs and to actively enforce the student conduct policy.”

The policy calls for the offending students to be documented and referred to student judiciary. From there, the judiciary can issue a range of sanctions depending on the circumstances of the case.

Stang said that staff members are trained to be vigilant but to remain non-intrusive.

“Our main goal is prevention and teaching students to make good decisions,” Stang said. “If it looks like you have a keg in your backpack we are probably going to notice.”

Oftentimes it is excessive noise that alerts residence hall staff.

“It’s fine if they’re quiet, but when they are being disruptive then it’s time for a CA to step in,” said freshman undecided major Jamelia Ginns.

Underage students have often snuck alcohol into the residence halls by using backpacks or other carrying bags.

“We may not see them load the alcohol in the parking lot, but we come across empty boxes and their backpack starts rattling when they set it down,” said Lt. Todd Henert of the University Police. “At that point, we can put two and two together.”

The campus police can issue sanctions that range from a warning to student judicial referral to an arrest.

“It depends on our interaction with the students,” Henert said.

Ultimately, Stang expressed a desire for students not to drink until they’re 21.

“We hope that people make smart decisions and use common sense,” Stang said.