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Alcohol and Substance Policy

 


Alcohol and Substance Policy

  1. Illinois Wesleyan University endorses the Drug Free Schools and Campuses Act and the required provisions of that act may be found in the IWU policy statement regarding illicit drugs and alcohol.  In compliance with the Department of Education's Drug Free Schools and Campuses Act (1989, Part 86) as a condition of receiving federal funds, or any form of financial assistance under any federal program, an institution of higher education must certify that it has adopted and implemented a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees.
  2. Illinois Wesleyan University prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession, or use of alcohol and/or any illegal substance use, including unlawful prescription and over the counter drugs, on University premises.  Anyone who violates any portion of this rule will be disciplined according to the severity of the violation. Such discipline may include termination of an employee and expulsion of a student as well as referral for prosecution by the appropriate law enforcement agency. 
  3. Any student, faculty member, or staff member convicted under a criminal drug statute for an offense which occurred entirely or in part at the University or in a University activity, whether on or off campus, must report that conviction. Generally, students will report to the Vice President and Dean of Students, faculty and others in the academic area to the Provost and Dean of the Faculty, and all others to the Vice President of Business and Finance. Reporting should take place within 5 days of the conviction. Failure to report such convictions may result in immediate separation from the University. The conviction, when reported, will be reviewed and disciplinary action may be taken as/if appropriate.
  4. Throughout the year, programs on alcohol and drug abuse are sponsored by various departments and organizations of the University because the problem of alcohol and drug abuse impacts all of us directly and/or indirectly. Students or groups who wish to have alcohol at events must secure clearance through the Associate Dean of Students/Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life well in advance of the date of the event. A registration form will be required. No kegs or pony kegs are allowed on University property. Upon discovery of kegs, pony kegs or other common sources of alcohol, said items will be confiscated and will NOT be returned but will be disposed of by Campus Safety.
  5. We believe that alcoholism and drug addiction are illnesses and should be treated as such, and that the majority of those who develop an alcohol or other drug addiction can be helped to recover. The University offers assistance by referral to an appropriate agency or other resource.
  6. We believe the decision to seek diagnosis and accept treatment for any suspected illness is the responsibility of the individual. The decision to seek treatment will not be detrimental to enrollment and/or employment. We believe that confidential handling of the diagnosis and treatment of alcoholism and other drug addiction is essential. Illinois Wesleyan University does not have a formal treatment program. However, with over 2,000 full-time students and an appropriate faculty and support staff, there will be some who feel a need for assistance with an alcohol or drug-related problem. The Dean of Student Affairs and the Arnold Health Service professionals communicate with agencies in the community which offer assistance. Anyone desiring further consultation of substance abuse issues concerning assistance for himself/herself or a friend may contact the Vice President and Dean of Students, the Associate Dean of Students, Counseling and Consultation Services, Health Services, or the Director of Residential Life. Such consultations will be treated as confidential by the University.
  7. While Illinois law allows limited medical marijuana use; using and possessing marijuana in any form remains a crime under federal law.  As a recipient of federal funding, such as financial aid and federal grants and contracts for research, IWU is required to continue to prohibit the use and possession of all federally controlled substances – including marijuana for medical uses. Consequently, such activity will remain prohibited by IWU policy and the IWU Student Conduct Code.

    At the federal level, the Controlled Substances Act states that the growing and use of marijuana is a crime and federal enforcement agencies can prosecute users and growers of marijuana, regardless of state law. In addition to being a federal offense, the use of medical marijuana in the workplace and on campus is restricted by additional federal laws, such as the federal Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act and the Drug-Free Workplace Act. It is those federal laws that require IWU to prohibit the use of marijuana, including for medical purposes, on campus.

Legal Consequences of Substance Abuse

There are a number of legal consequences that can occur as a result of substance abuse (drugs and/or alcohol). Under Illinois law, the sanctions listed below are imposed for offenses related to substance abuse. Even harsher punishments for drug trafficking are imposed at the federal level.

  1. Possession of less than 2.5 grams of cannabis is a Class C misdemeanor for the first offense, with a fine up to $500 and/or imprisonment for up to 30 days. Subsequent offenses or possession of higher amounts can raise the charge as high as a Class 1 felony, with a fine of up to $25,000 and imprisonment for 4-15 years.
  2. Manufacture or delivery of less than 2.5 grams of cannabis can constitute a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $1,500 and imprisonment of up to 6 months. Subsequent offenses or offenses involving greater amounts of cannabis can raise the charge to a Class X felony punishable by a fine of up to $200,000 and imprisonment for 6-30 years.
  3. Possession of a controlled substance starts as a Class 4 felony with a fine of not more than $25,000 and a sentence of not less than 1 year or more than 3 years. Depending on the amount of substance involved, the individual can be charged with a Class 1 felony and fined not more than $200,000 and imprisoned for not less than 10 years or more than 50 years.
  4. Those involved in the manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance can be found guilty of a Class 3 felony with a fine of not more than $75,000 and a sentence of not less than 2 years or more than 5 years. Depending on the amount of the controlled substance, the charge can go as high as a Class X felony with a fine of not more than $500,000 and a sentence of not less than 6 years or more than 30 years.
  5. Illegal possession of alcohol by someone under 21 years of age is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,500 and a sentence up to 6 months in jail.
  6. Those found guilty of distributing alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age are guilty of a Class A misdemeanor with a fine up to $2,500 and a sentence up to 1 year in jail.
  7. Those individuals who are charged with driving under the influence of alcohol where the blood alcohol content is greater than 0.08 can be found guilty of a Class A misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000, a sentence up to 1 year in jail, and a 1 year suspension of their driver's license. Additional offenses can increase the crime to a Class 4 felony with a fine up to $25,000 and a sentence up to 10 years. It can also result in a more permanent loss of an individual's driver's license. Drivers under 21 years of age who are found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol will find consequences in excess of those listed above.


Enforcement Issues Related to Alcohol Use on Campus

  1. The University expects that all students will act in accordance with state and local laws regarding the use of alcohol. To that end, only students 21 years of age or older may possess and/or consume alcoholic beverages defined as beer and wine only. Provision of alcohol to persons less than 21 years of age is prohibited.  All first-year residence halls are considered alcohol free and alcohol is not permitted in these living areas.
  2. Possession, consumption and/or provision of alcohol in public areas of the campus is not permitted unless authorized through the Associate Dean of Students/Co-Curricular Programs. Public areas are defined as those areas of the campus that are readily accessible to students, faculty, staff and guests. Such areas include all outside areas, athletic fields, lobbies, classrooms, lounges, building corridors and offices.
  3. Students (whether of legal drinking age or not) and/or their guests are not permitted to have kegs, party balls or other common sources of alcohol, tapped or untapped, on campus. A common source of alcohol is also defined as more alcohol than can be responsibly consumed by the occupants of the room.
  4. Student activity fees may not be used, directly or indirectly, to purchase alcoholic beverages.
  5. No reference, direct or indirect, to alcohol may appear or be used in notices or postings (including sheet signs) which promote or advertise an event.
  6. Drinking games, beer funnels and other practices or materials that encourage unsafe consumption are also prohibited.  Any games that promote irresponsible drinking are prohibited and subject to sanction through the Dean's Office.

Local Ordinances for Unlawful Possession or Distribution of Illicit Drugs and/or Alcohol

The City of Bloomington adheres to strict enforcement of laws regarding alcohol and illicit drugs. The legal drinking age in the city of Bloomington is 21. The state of Illinois has a zero tolerance law. Thus, it is illegal for any person under age 21 to possess alcohol in the city of Bloomington or to have alcohol of any amount in their system. It is also unlawful to possess a false ID, to tamper with your ID, or to use someone else's ID. The city ordinances and fines are as follows:

  1. Illegal Sale, Gift or Service of Alcoholic Liquor to Persons (Ch. 6 Sec. 26(a) - Fine $250) - This means you can not sell cups, collect money for alcohol at a party, or charge admission. In order to do this you need to have a license with the city of Bloomington.
  2. Illegal (Attempt to) Purchase or Acceptance of Alcoholic Liquor (Ch. 6 Sec. 26(b) - Fine $250) - This means you cannot use a fake ID of any type or tamper with your own ID for the purpose of purchasing alcohol.
  3. Illegal Order, Sales, Purchase or Delivery of Alcoholic Liquor or Permission Thereof for Persons (Ch. 6 Sec. 26(c) - Fine $250).
  4. Drinking or Possession of Open Alcohol on A Public Street or Other Public Property (Ch. 6 Sec. 26(d) - Fine $250) - This means you can not walk around with open alcohol in your possession.
  5. Illegal Possession of Alcoholic Liquor (Ch. 6 Sec. 26(e) - Fine $250).
  6. Illegal Possession of Alcoholic Liquor by Consumption (Ch. 6 Sec. 26(f) - Fine $250).
  7. No Underage or Intoxicated Person in Licensed Premises (Ch. 6 Sec. 27(a) - Fine $250) - The bar entry age in Bloomington for purposes of consuming beverages is 21.
  8. Purchasing or Attempting to Purchase Alcoholic Liquor with Fraudulent/False ID (Ch. 6 Sec. 28(g) - Fine $250) - This means fake ID's are illegal and violators will be prosecuted.
  9. No Alcoholic Liquor with Broken Seal in Passenger Area of Automobile (Ch. 6 Sec. 30 - Fine $250) - This means you cannot be in possession of alcohol that has been opened in the passenger area of an automobile. Even if you have not drank this alcohol it is still illegal to be in possession of it.
  10. Possession of Cannabis (Ch. 28 Sec. 103(a) - Fine $50).
  11. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Ch. 28 Sec. 103.1 - Fine $250).


Illinois State Alcohol Laws

Influenced Driving

Each year in Illinois, hundreds of people die needlessly as the result of drinking or drugged driving. Hundreds more are seriously injured or permanently disabled, and millions of dollars of property damage occur. Here are some things you should know about the consequences of drinking and driving in Illinois.

DUI Information for Adults

DUI Conviction Penalties

First DUI conviction

  • Minimum of one-year loss of full driving privileges.
  • Possible imprisonment for up to one year.
  • Maximum fine of $1,000.

Second DUI Conviction

  • Minimum five-year loss of full driving privileges for a second conviction in a 20-year period.
  • Mandatory 48 hours in jail or 10 days community service for a second conviction in a five-year period.
  • Possible imprisonment for up to one year.
  • Maximum fine of $1,000.

Third DUI Conviction - Class 4 felony

  • Minimum ten-year loss of full driving privileges.
  • Possible imprisonment for up to three years.
  • Maximum fine of $10,000.

Other Alcohol Offenses

Felony DUI - Class 4 felony (following a crash resulting in great bodily harm or permanent disfigurement.)

  • Loss of full driving privileges for a minimum of one year.
  • Possible imprisonment for one to three years.
  • Maximum fine of $10,000.

Providing Alcohol to a Person Under Age 21

  • Possible imprisonment for up to one year.
  • Maximum fine of $2,500.

Illegal Transportation of an Alcoholic Beverage

  • Maximum fine of $1,000.
  • Point-assigned violation will be entered on drivers record.
  • Drivers license suspension for a second conviction in a 12-month period.

Knowingly Permitting a Driver Under the Influence to Operate a Vehicle

  • Possible imprisonment for up to one year.
  • Maximum fine of $2,500.

Summary Suspension
First Offense:

  • A chemical test indicating a BAC of .08 or greater results in a mandatory three-month drivers license suspension.
  • Refusal to submit to a chemical test(s) results in a six-month license suspension.

Subsequent Offenses:

  • Refusal to submit to a chemical test(s), or test results indicating a BAC of .08 or greater, results in a mandatory 12 months drivers license suspension.

Teenage Drinking and Driving

Drivers under age 21 represent 10% of licensed drivers but are involved in 17% of alcohol-related fatal crashes. If you are arrested for DUI you will be handcuffed and taken to jail. What will your parents say when you call home and tell them you are in jail? Illinois DUI laws for drivers under 21 years of age are tough and will effect your life for years-- if you live that long. Crashes are a leading cause of death for teens. Nationally, six individuals between the ages of 15 - 20 die in motor vehicle crashes each day. About 2 in every 5 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.

Legal Consequences of Underage Drinking and Driving

First Underage 21 DUI Conviction

  • Loss of full driving privileges for a minimum of 2 years.
  • Possible imprisonment for up to 1 year.
  • Maximum $2,500 fine.

Second Underage 21 DUI Conviction

  • Loss of full driving privileges for a minimum of 5 years or until age 21, whichever is longer.
  • Mandatory 5 days in jail or 30 days community service if prior offense within 5 years.
  • Possible imprisonment for up to l year.
  • Maximum $2,500 fine.

Third Underage 21 DUI Conviction - Class 4 Felony

  • Loss of full driving privileges for a minimum of 10 years.
  • Mandatory 10 days imprisonment or 60 days community service.
  • Possible imprisonment for 1-3 years.
  • Maximum $25,000 fine if prior offense within 5 years.

Aggravated DUI

Class 4 Felony (Following a crash resulting in great bodily harm or permanent disfigurements)

  • Loss of full driving privileges for a minimum of 1 year.
  • Possible imprisonment for 1-12 years.
  • Maximum fine of $25,000.

Underage Illegal Transportation of an Alcoholic Beverage

  • Maximum fine of $1,000.
  • Drivers license suspended for first conviction.
  • Drivers license revoked for a second conviction.

Summary Suspension

  • A chemical test indicating a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or greater results in a 3-month drivers license suspension.
  • Refusal to submit to a chemical test(s) results in a 6-month license suspension.
  • For subsequent offenses, a chemical test indicating a BAC of .08 or greater results in a 12-month drivers license suspension.
  • Refusal to submit to a chemical test(s) results in a 36-month drivers license suspension.

Possession of Alcoholic Beverages

It is illegal for any person under the age of 21 to have alcoholic beverages in their possession, whether open or unopened. Penalties include:

  • A maximum of $2,500 fine and up to one year in jail.

Using a Fake Illinois Drivers License or ID Card

The penalties for using false IDs are serious and could change your life forever.

  • Obtaining a drivers license through false affidavit is punishable by 1-3 years in prison and a maximum $25,000 fine.
  • Allowing another person to use your identification documents to apply for a drivers license or ID card is punishable by 1-3 years in prison and a maximum $25,000 fine.

Zero Tolerance Law for Underage Drinking and Driving

Zero tolerance is a state law that went into effect on January 1, 1995. The law provides for suspension of the driving privileges of any person under the age of 21 who drives after consuming alcohol. Like the name zero tolerance suggests, any trace of alcohol in a young person's system can result in a suspended drivers license. There are exceptions -- minors who consume alcohol as part of a religious service or those who ingest a prescribed or recommended dosage of medicine containing alcohol.

Penalties for Drinking and Driving

The Zero Tolerance Law provides that minors can have their driving privileges suspended even if they're not intoxicated at the .08 level. The following table shows the length of time your driving privileges may be suspended under the Zero Tolerance Law (for BAC of .01 or greater) and DUI Laws (for BAC of .08 or greater). The loss of driving privileges is greater if you refuse to take a sobriety test.

Under Zero Tolerance Law / Under DUI Laws

    If Test Refused   If Test Refused
1st Violation 3 Months 6 Months 2 Years 2 Years
2nd Violation 1 Year 2 Years Until age 21 or 5 years minimum Until age 21 or 5 years minimum

Effect on Your Driving Record

  • Zero Tolerance (BAC of .01 or greater) -- Except during suspension period, not on public driving record as long as there is no subsequent suspension.
  • DUI Conviction (BAC of .08 or greater) -- Permanently on public driving record.

Under certain conditions, you may be charged with DUI even though your BAC is below .08.

How You Can Help Report Drunk Drivers

You can help by reporting suspected drunk drivers to your nearest State Police Headquarters.  From your cellular telephone or citizens band radio, provide us with the following information:

  • The location you are calling from.
  • Time, location, direction of travel and a description of the suspected drunk driver.
  • The make, color, and license plate number of the car.

Blood Alcohol Content Table

This table shows the effects of alcohol on a normal person of a given body weight.  Please do not take this table as a license to drink irresponsibly.  Everyone is different, and alcohol affects each person in a slightly different way.  Only you know your limits.  Please drink within them.

One drink equals: Levels of Intoxication:
   * 1 oz. 86 proof Liquor, or BAC less than .05% - Caution
   *3 oz. wine, or BAC .05 to .079% - Driving Impaired
   *12 oz. Beer BAC .08% & up - Presumed Under the Influence

 

Number of Drinks

Body Weight

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

100 0.032 0.065 0.097 0.129 0.162 0.194 0.226 0.258 0.291
120 0.027 0.054 0.081 0.108 0.135 0.161 0.188 0.215 0.242
140 0.023 0.046 0.069 0.092 0.115 0.138 0.161 0.184 0.207
160 0.020 0.040 0.060 0.080 0.101 0.121 0.141 0.161 0.181
180 0.018 0.036 0.054 0.072 0.090 0.108 0.126 0.144 0.162
200 0.016 0.032 0.048 0.064 0.080 0.097 0.113 0.129 0.145
220 0.015 0.029 0.044 0.058 0.073 0.088 0.102 0.117 0.131
240 0.014 0.027 0.040 0.053 0.067 0.081 0.095 0.108 0.121

This table shows the effects of alcohol within one hour on a normal person of a given body weight.  Please do not take this table as a license to drink irresponsibly.  Everyone is different, and alcohol affects each person in a slightly different way.  Only you know your limits.  Please drink within them.


Federal Drug Information

Federal Drug Laws
Drugs of Abuse Chart

Prince Robertson - Dean of Students for Community Standards and Advocacy

Department - Dean Of Students