Stanford limits undergrads’ consumption of hard alcohol on campus 
 
 Photo: MANDEL NGAN, AFP/Getty Images The policy, which is effective immediately, was characterized by... 
 
 In a move to put an end to a burgeoning culture of boozing, Stanford University announced Monday that it is banning consumption of hard alcohol by undergraduates at campus parties. 
 
 The prohibition would include mixed drinks and shots of hard alcohol, but not beer and wine, at on-campus parties. High volume liquor containers of 750 milliliters or larger, popularly known as “a fifth,” would also be forbidden in all undergraduate housing, according to a Stanford news release announcing the policy change. 
 
 Liquor would, however, be allowed at parties hosted by student organizations and residences where graduate students live. Undergraduates 21 and older can still have beer in their rooms, but the days of “Animal House”-style bacchanalia are over, university officials declared. 
 
 “Our focus is on the high risk of the rapid consumption of hard alcohol,” said Ralph Castro, the director of the Stanford Office of Alcohol Policy and Education. “Our intention is not a total prohibition of a substance, but rather a targeted approach that limits high-risk behavior.” 
 
 The decision comes after several recent incidents on campus, including the notorious case of Brock Turner, who was sentenced in June to six months in jail for sexually assaulting a drunken and unconscious woman after a fraternity party when he was 20. 
 
 The light sentence — he could have gotten six years in prison — sparked national outrage and an online campaign to remove the judge in the case, Aaron Persky, from the bench. In his plea for leniency, Turner, a champion swimmer from Dayton, Ohio, told the judge that he planned to “speak out against the college campus drinking culture and the sexual promiscuity that goes along with that.” 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Photo: Karl Mondon, Associated Press Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close Image 1 of 30 In this Feb. 2, 2015 file photo, accompanied by his father Dan Turner, right, former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner appears in a Palo Alto, Calif., courtroom. In this Feb. 2, 2015 file photo, accompanied by his father Dan Turner, right, former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner appears in a Palo Alto, Calif., courtroom. Photo: Karl Mondon, Associated Press Image 2 of 30 New court documents reveal what prosecutors say demonstrates Brock Turner's history of drug and alcohol use. Profane language was redacted by SFGATE. New court documents reveal what prosecutors say demonstrates Brock Turner's history of drug and alcohol use. Profane language was redacted by SFGATE. Photo: People V. Turner/ Court Documents Image 3 of 30 New court documents reveal what prosecutors say demonstrates Brock Turner's history of drug and alcohol use. Profane language was redacted by SFGATE. New court documents reveal what prosecutors say demonstrates Brock Turner's history of drug and alcohol use. Profane language was redacted by SFGATE. Photo: People V. Turner/ Court Documents Image 4 of 30 New court documents reveal what prosecutors say demonstrates Brock Turner's history of drug and alcohol use. Profane language was redacted by SFGATE. New court documents reveal what prosecutors say demonstrates Brock Turner's history of drug and alcohol use. Profane language was redacted by SFGATE. Photo: People V. Turner/ Court Documents Image 5 of 30 New court documents reveal what prosecutors say demonstrates Brock Turner's history of drug and alcohol use. Profane language was redacted by SFGATE. New court documents reveal what prosecutors say demonstrates Brock Turner's history of drug and alcohol use. Profane language was redacted by SFGATE. Photo: People V. Turner/ Court Documents Image 6 of 30 Text messages reveal what prosecutors say demonstrates Brock Turner's history of drug and alcohol use. Profane language was redacted by SFGATE. Text messages reveal what prosecutors say demonstrates Brock Turner's history of drug and alcohol use. Profane language was redacted by SFGATE. Photo: People V. Turner/ Court Documents Image 7 of 30 Text messages reveal what prosecutors say demonstrates Brock Turner's history of drug and alcohol use. Profane language was redacted by SFGATE. Text messages reveal what prosecutors say demonstrates Brock Turner's history of drug and alcohol use. Profane language was redacted by SFGATE. Photo: People V. Turner/ Court Documents Image 8 of 30 This undated booking file photo provided by Santa Clara County Sheriff shows Brock Turner, a former Stanford University swimmer, who received six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. 
 
 This undated booking file photo provided by Santa Clara County Sheriff shows Brock Turner, a former Stanford University swimmer, who received six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. Photo: Associated Press Image 9 of 30 Stanford swimmer Brock Turner during a meet against University of the Pacific on January 10, 2015 in Stanford, California. Turner will be charged in the rape of a woman he met at a campus party and assaulted her as she lay intoxicated and unconscious outside, said Santa Clara County prosecutors on Tuesday 27, 2015. less Stanford swimmer Brock Turner during a meet against University of the Pacific on January 10, 2015 in Stanford, California. Turner will be charged in the rape of a woman he met at a campus party and assaulted ... more Photo: Hector Garcia-Molina, Stanfordphoto.com Image 10 of 30 
 
 less In this June 2, 2016 photo, Brock Turner, 20, right, makes his way into the Santa Clara Superior Courthouse in Palo Alto, Calif. The six-month jail term given to Turner, the former Stanford University swimmer who sexually assaulted an unconscious woman after both attended a fraternity party, is being decried as a token punishment. In this June 2, 2016 photo, Brock Turner, 20, right, makes his way into the Santa Clara Superior Courthouse in Palo Alto, Calif. The six-month jail term given to Turner, the former Stanford University swimmer ... more Photo: Dan Honda, Associated Press Image 11 of 30 
 
 less In this June 2, 2016 photo, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen reacts to what happened in the courtroom outside of the Santa Clara Superior Courthouse in Palo Alto, Calif. Brock Turner, a former Stanford swimmer, was sentenced to six months in jail on his conviction on three counts of felony sexual assault on a 22-year-old young woman on the Stanford campus following a party on Jan. 18, 2015. At left is Deputy District Attorney Alaleh Kianerci. In this June 2, 2016 photo, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen reacts to what happened in the courtroom outside of the Santa Clara Superior Courthouse in Palo Alto, Calif. Brock Turner, a former ... more Photo: Dan Honda, Associated Press Image 12 of 30 Stanford police filed this incident report about the Brock Turner case, released on Friday. Stanford police filed this incident report about the Brock Turner case, released on Friday. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 13 of 30 Alerted by 911, deputies find find the victim lying on the ground unconscious. Alerted by 911, deputies find find the victim lying on the ground unconscious. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 14 of 30 A deputy was examining the unconscious victim when he was told that a witness had a suspect pinned down nearby. A deputy was examining the unconscious victim when he was told that a witness had a suspect pinned down nearby. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 15 of 30 Bicycling witness Peter Lars Johnsson tells why he got suspicious and how the suspect began to run. Bicycling witness Peter Lars Johnsson tells why he got suspicious and how the suspect began to run. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 16 of 30 Johnsson explains how he chased down Turner and pinned him until police arrived. Johnsson explains how he chased down Turner and pinned him until police arrived. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 17 of 30 Deputies have Johnsson release his grip Turner so they can handuff him. Deputies have Johnsson release his grip Turner so they can handuff him. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 18 of 30 After his arrest, Turner is interviewed by police and acknowledges certain sexual activity. After his arrest, Turner is interviewed by police and acknowledges certain sexual activity. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 19 of 30 Turner describes his drinking activity and his intentions. Turner describes his drinking activity and his intentions. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 20 of 30 Deputies interview the victim after she wakes up hours later, and learn she has no memory of the events. Deputies interview the victim after she wakes up hours later, and learn she has no memory of the events. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 21 of 30 Assault with intent to commit rape is charged. A previous rape charge was dismissed because there is no evidence Turner had his pants off. Assault with intent to commit rape is charged. A previous rape charge was dismissed because there is no evidence Turner had his pants off. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 22 of 30 In asking for a six-year prison term, the prosecution explains why it believes the crime is especially severe. In asking for a six-year prison term, the prosecution explains why it believes the crime is especially severe. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 23 of 30 The prosecution details Turner's arrest the previous week on a drinking charge; the defense will dispute there was a fake ID involved. The prosecution details Turner's arrest the previous week on a drinking charge; the defense will dispute there was a fake ID involved. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 24 of 30 Before sentencing, 255 Stanford students sign a letter urging Turner be sent to prison. Before sentencing, 255 Stanford students sign a letter urging Turner be sent to prison. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 25 of 30 The defense argues Turner shouldn't be sent to prison because the probation report found he's at low risk to reoffend. The defense argues Turner shouldn't be sent to prison because the probation report found he's at low risk to reoffend. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 26 of 30 The defense argues the victim told the probation officer she didn't want Turner imprisoned and changed her mind after talking to deputy district attorney Alaleh Kianerci; the prosecution disputes this. The defense argues the victim told the probation officer she didn't want Turner imprisoned and changed her mind after talking to deputy district attorney Alaleh Kianerci; the prosecution disputes this. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 27 of 30 Turner gets many letters of support from his hometow of Dayton, Ohio; here, a former teacher notes how his personality seemed changed. Turner gets many letters of support from his hometow of Dayton, Ohio; here, a former teacher notes how his personality seemed changed. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 28 of 30 Turner's father writes a letter that includes the much-criticized "20 minutes of action" statement. Turner's father writes a letter that includes the much-criticized "20 minutes of action" statement. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 29 of 30 In her victim impact statement, the victim says Turner has not demonstrated sincere remorse and does not deserve a light sentence. In her victim impact statement, the victim says Turner has not demonstrated sincere remorse and does not deserve a light sentence. Photo: Vlae Kershner Image 30 of 30 Stanford limits undergrads’ consumption of hard alcohol on campus 1 / 30 Back to Gallery 
 
 The 23-year-old victim also talked about the drinking culture at Stanford, but said it was no excuse for rape. 
 
 “I want to show people that one night of drinking can ruin two lives. You and me,” she said to Turner in court. 
 
 She explained how she had attended the party with her younger sister, had too much alcohol and passed out. Around 1 a.m., two graduate students came across Turner lying on top of the partially clothed, unconscious woman in a field next to garbage bins near the fraternity. 
 
 The students tackled the freshman after he tried to run away, then called police. Turner told investigators that he had seven cans of beer that night and was having consensual sex with the woman. 
 
 “You realize, having a drinking problem is different than drinking and then forcefully trying to have sex with someone?” the victim asked Turner in court. “Alcohol is not an excuse. Is it a factor? Yes. But alcohol was not the one who stripped me, fingered me, had my head dragging against the ground, with me almost fully naked. Having too much to drink was an amateur mistake that I admit to, but it is not criminal.” 
 
 The case highlighted for many women’s advocates how sex assault cases are often trivialized as a result of the college drinking culture. 
 
 The new policy was not directly related to the Turner case, but came out of general concern and is part of the school’s efforts to examine educational efforts and policies around alcohol use, said Lisa Lapin, a campus spokeswoman. 
 
 The policy, which is effective immediately, was characterized by President John Hennessy and Provost John Etchemendy as an attempt to “meaningfully change the campus culture around alcohol.” 
 
 “We must create a campus community that allows for alcohol to be a part of the social lives of some of our students, but not to define the social and communal lives of all of our students,” Greg Boardman, vice provost for student affairs, wrote to all incoming students. 
 
 Penalties for breaking the new alcohol policy could result in removal from university housing, officials said. 
 
 Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite ||||| Starting this fall, hard alcohol will be prohibited at “all categories of undergraduate student parties,” the University announced on Monday. According to an email from Vice Provost for Student Affairs Greg Boardman, the University is tightening is alcohol policy to decrease the consumption of hard alcohol. The updated policy also prohibits “high-volume distilled liquor containers” for undergraduate students. 
 
 While the change falls short of a full ban on hard alcohol, Boardman’s email said that the University finalized the changes in order to limit the availability and accessibility of hard alcohol. Hard alcohol — defined as more than 20 percent alcohol by volume or more than 40 proof — will be limited to bottles smaller than 750 mL (also known as a fifth) in residences and public spaces. 
 
 Undergraduate parties will be limited to serving beer and wine only. Any group or residence that has undergraduate members is subject to the new policy. Additionally, graduate groups that host parties may only have hard alcohol in mixed drinks (rather than shots, which have long been prohibited at parties) and must register their “Members” parties. 
 
 The policy change follows rumors of a ban spurred by a University meeting with resident fellows (RFs) last March, which was met by campus wide opposition. In a campus-wide referendum in April, 91.46 percent of voters opted against a hard alcohol ban, and approximately 1,720 people signed a petition against the proposal. 
 
 “We’re not necessarily looking at popularity, but rather functionality,” said Ralph Castro, director of the Office of Alcohol Policy and Education (OAPE), in an interview with The Daily. 
 
 According to Boardman, the new policy is the brainchild of a working group composed of administrators from the OAPE, Vaden Health Center and Residential Education (ResEd). The group convened early last school year to find potential solutions for binge drinking and what it identified as a social culture centered on alcohol consumption. Boardman said the group consulted with multiple voices, including undergraduates, RFs and resident assistants (RAs), while crafting the policy. Not all of them agreed with it — some RFs did not support a ban of any sort — but the administration decided to move forward. 
 
 Dean of ResEd Deborah Golder said the new alcohol policy will help to combat an alienating culture that excludes many students who choose not to drink. 
 
 “Bottom line, there needs to be a change,” Golder said. “We tend to talk about what we’re losing rather than what we’re gaining.” 
 
 According to the University’s frequently-asked-questions page, the policy will reduce the availability of hard alcohol since most retailers only sell large volumes of hard alcohol. The website explains that limits were chosen over a complete ban because the focus is on “not a total prohibition of a substance, but rather a targeted approach that limits high-risk behavior and has the backing of empirical studies on restricting the availability of and access to alcohol.” 
 
 The repercussions for policy violations remain unchanged; students failing to comply with the new changes will be referred to Residence Deans and the Office of Alcohol Policy and Education (OAPE). Multiple violations or “concerning behavior” could also result in removal from university housing or a referral to the Office of Community Standards. 
 
 Golder also sent out an email to incoming RAs asking for their cooperation in helping to enforce the new policy. While the email acknowledged some RAs may view this as a shift in their role, Golder wrote that the role of an RA “first and foremost is still to develop rapport and relationship” with residents. 
 
 “We don’t see this as policing,” Golder told The Daily. “We see it as promoting a set of norms in the house.” 
 
 Contact Ada Statler-Throckmorton at adastat ‘at’ stanford.edu or Victor Xu at vxu ‘at’ stanford.edu. ||||| New rules banning ‘hard alcohol’ and ‘shots’ from campus events were unveiled months after Brock Turner blamed his sexual assault on school’s ‘party culture’ 
 
 Stanford University has banned liquor from campus parties with a new policy that critics say is a tone-deaf response to growing concerns about sexual assault. 
 
 The elite northern California school – which faced widespread scrutiny after former swimmer Brock Turner was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman outside a fraternity – announced on Monday that “hard alcohol” and “shots” of liquor would be banned from all on-campus parties open to undergraduates. 
 
 The new rules – which also prohibit certain “high-volume” liquor containers from undergraduate housing – were unveiled months after Turner blamed his sexual assault on Stanford’s “party culture … surrounded by binge drinking and sexual promiscuity”. 
 
 Brock Turner's statement blames sexual assault on Stanford ‘party culture’ Read more 
 
 In its announcement, Stanford said the policy change is designed to “reduce the availability and accessibility of hard alcohol” and is part of a broader effort to “meaningfully change the campus culture around alcohol”. 
 
 Critics on campus said the new rules appeared to be a clear public relations effort to respond to the Turner controversy, and some said they were worried that the changes may only increase safety risks associated with drinking. 
 
 One concern is that by banning liquor from public parties, the university is inadvertently encouraging students to binge drink in dorm rooms where perpetrators of sexual assault may be even more likely to attack vulnerable victims. Additionally, critics of the policy worry that students will drink much more heavily before parties, meaning that once they show up, there will be greater risks that someone might take advantage of them. 
 
 “I actually think this is putting students in danger,” said Michele Landis Dauber, a Stanford law professor and vocal critic of the university’s sexual assault policies. “It’s going to drive it underground … and encourage this super quick consumption not in a public area.” 
 
 By targeting drinking at parties, it opens the door for juniors and seniors who are 21 and older to entice younger women to come to their dorms and drink there, she said. 
 
 Turner, who was convicted of multiple felonies, assaulted a woman by a dumpster after a fraternity party and was caught when two bystanders saw him “thrusting” on top of the motionless woman and intervened. 
 
 The case received international headlines after the victim released an emotional statement about the trauma of the assault and trial. She wrote about how painful it was to hear Turner and others suggest that the assault was her fault and that alcohol was to blame. 
 
 “Brock Turner said he was a victim of Stanford’s alcohol culture … and I believe Stanford was really stung and embarrassed,” said Dauber, who is a family friend of Turner’s victim and is leading a campaign to recall the judge who gave him a light sentence. 
 
 She said she feared the rule could also increases risks of alcohol poisoning. 
 
 Critics say that instead of focusing on preventing excessive drinking, which is inevitable on college campuses, universities should be working to shift the culture around sexual assault, provide thorough education on consent and hold perpetrators accountable in meaningful ways. 
 
 If the university was serious about changing alcohol rules in an effort to stop sexual assaults, then administrators should be re-evaluating how it regulates fraternity parties and social events for athletes, Dauber added. 
 
 Stanford spokeswoman Lisa Lapin did not respond to questions about the criticisms and emailed the Guardian an earlier statement from president John Hennessy and provost John Etchemendy in which they noted that more than 1,800 college students die each year from alcohol-related incidents and that nearly 100,000 experience sexual violence tied to alcohol consumption. 
 
 “We need new solutions – solutions that reduce risk for students, that reduce the pressure on students to drink, and that meaningfully change our culture around alcohol,” they wrote.
– After months of headlines about the heavy drinking culture at Stanford thanks to the Brock Turmer rape case, the university has announced new rules on drinking: No more hard alcohol at undergrad parties, reports the Stanford Daily. Beer and wine are still OK, but no booze more than 40 proof or 20% alcohol by volume. Undergrads can still keep hard alcohol in their dorm rooms, provided the bottles are smaller than 750ml. “Our intention is not a total prohibition of a substance, but rather a targeted approach that limits high-risk behavior," says a school official. Critics, however, think the new rules carry risks of their own—specifically, students "pre-gaming" in their rooms before parties. “I actually think this is putting students in danger,” Stanford law professor Michele Landis Dauber, who has been critical of the school's sexual assault policies, tells the Guardian. “It’s going to drive it underground … and encourage this super quick consumption not in a public area.” The Turner case "highlighted for many women’s advocates how sex assault cases are often trivialized as a result of the college drinking culture," observes the San Francisco Chronicle, though a campus spokeswoman says the new policy is not directly related to the case.