If an underage student gets caught with alcohol, he or she has a lot of things to worry about.

For example, the police will get involved, there could be a fine and, wait &their parents could get a call from the university.

According to a new amendment to the Higher Education Act, nothing can stop a college or university from telling parents or guardians when students violate the law, whether it’s federal, state or university-wide. The Warner Amendment, included in the Higher Education Amendments and passed by the Senate in July 1998, goes on to say that higher education institutions can release the information if the student is under 21 or if the university decides the incident is a “disciplinary violation.”

Judicial Office director Larry Bolles said the policy at NIU is that the university will only contact parents if it is a serious case and lives were put in danger or if there are repeat offenses.

“That law gives us the right to contact the parents if a student is illegally caught with alcohol,” Bolles said. “But each school has their own policy of how to do that. Alcohol and beer are usually the drug of choice at Northern and all colleges in general. We know the policy won’t stop students from drinking, but hopefully they’ll be more careful.”

Parents are only informed of alcohol-related incidents if the student is under 21 and if they are financially dependent on their parents or legal guardian.

“Parents can have a good effect on their kids,” said junior accounting major Steve Saenim. “If they know about their child’s problem, they’ll be there to help.”

Not all incidents will be reported to parents, Bolles added.

“Obviously if the student is 30 years old, but financially dependent on their parents, we are not going to call [them],” Bolles said. “We are mostly working with students 17 to 20 years old.”

Kim Bosslat, a senior art history major, said telling parents about alcohol offenses won’t fix anything.

“It just creates more problems [between the parent and child],” Bosslat said.

At the University of Delaware, all alcohol-related offenses are reported back to the parents. General Counsel George Shur said because of that, they experience less repeat offenses.

The average student drinks beer at least once in their college life, Bolles said. If it turns into a serious case, parents will be notified.

At NIU, if a student is illegally caught with alcohol and it’s their first offense, they will be required to pay a $50 fine and attend an alcohol education class.

“Usually that gets the point across,” Bolles said. “College is a drinking atmosphere and alcohol is everywhere. The students have to be careful.”

A committee has been organized to think of non-alcoholic events on campus so students will have other things to do.

“All college parties, whether they be at bars or apartments, will have alcohol there,” Bolles said. “Students should have other choices of what to do on weekends that doesn’t involve alcohol.”