Alcohol and Other Drug University Expectations

  • Purpose

    La Salle University is a community that believes the best environment for learning occurs when the community promotes and supports healthy and responsible behavior among its members. Students make their own choices and are ultimately responsible for their behavior. The purpose of the Student Alcohol and Other Drug University Expectations is to promote individual responsibility and advance the goals and expectations central to the university mission. The Student Alcohol and Other Drug University Expectations applies to all student members of the university community and their guests.La Salle University follows all local, state, and federal laws. Students and student organizations are subject to local, state and federal laws regarding alcohol and drug use, and the university will not protect individuals or groups from law enforcement with respect to drugs and alcohol use or abuse.In order to avoid the dangerous and possibly fatal effects of alcohol poisoning or overdosing from other drugs, an individual who has passed out or shows other signs of serious effects from alcohol or other drug consumption should immediately be brought to the attention of La Salle Public Safety, Residence Life, Community Development or some other person able to assist or to get assistance. Seeking such help is encouraged by La Salle and the Amnesty Process is included in the expectations listed below.

    Federal, State, and City Sanctions Related to the Use, Possession, and Distribution of Alcohol and Drugs
    • Alcohol
      • Under Pennsylvania law and the Pennsylvania Crimes and Liquor Codes, a person under 21 years of age commits a summary offense if they attempt to or in actuality (1) purchase, (2) consume, (3) possess, or (4) transport alcohol. Police must notify the parents of a minor charged with violating this law. If convicted, the minor’s driver’s license will be suspended. A second offense will yield a fine of up to $500.
      • In addition, any person who intentionally provides alcohol to a minor will be convicted of a misdemeanor in the third degree, for which the fine will be at least $1,000 for the first offense, and $2,500 for any subsequent violations.
      • The City of Philadelphia prohibits the consumption, carrying, or possession of an open container of alcoholic beverages in the public right-of-way or on private property without the expressed permission of the landowner or tenant. A person who commits a violation may be subject to a fine up to $300, as well as imprisonment for up to ten (10) days, if the fine together with costs, are not paid within ten (10) days.
    • Drugs
      • Federal and state laws prohibit the possession, use, and distribution of illegal drugs. Also, under federal law, anyone who is at least 18 years old and who distributes drugs to anyone under 21 will be imprisoned and/or fined up to twice what is otherwise provided by law, with a minimum prison sentence of one year.
    • Procedures

      La Salle University Expectations Regarding Student Alcohol and Other Drugs

      Students who are found to be in potential violation of the following university expectations will be referred to the University Student Conduct Process and subject to university disciplinary action.
      • Alcohol
        • No person less than twenty-one (21) years of age shall purchase, consume, possess, be in the presence of, transport or attempt to purchase, consume, possess, or transport any alcohol, liquor, or malt or brewed beverages on University property or at any University sponsored events.
        • No student shall transfer or possess a registration card or other form of identification for the purpose of falsifying age to secure any alcohol, liquor, or malt or brewed beverages.
        • No student shall sell, furnish, allow to possess, or give any alcohol, liquor, or malt or brewed beverages, or permit any alcohol, liquor, or malt or brewed beverage to be sold, furnished, allowed to be possessed, or given to any person under twenty-one (21) years of age.
        • Behavior that results in intoxication, disorderliness, or offensive behavior resulting from the use of alcohol is prohibited, regardless of the student’s age.
        • The use of alcohol is prohibited in the academic buildings, or in the public areas of residence halls or university-owned apartments, in the La Salle Union or other University facilities, or at University sponsored functions on or off campus unless it is authorized by the University.
        • Students who are twenty-one (21) years of age or older are permitted to consume alcohol on campus only when such consumption does not interfere with the rights and privileges of other community members.
        • Students who are twenty-one (21) years of age or older are permitted to drink alcohol only at registered events or in the privacy of residence hall rooms, apartments, or townhouses.
        • No bulk quantities of alcohol (i.e. kegs), grain alcohol or alcohol over 100 proof is permitted in residence hall rooms, apartments, or townhouses.
        • Students, regardless of age, may not brew or distill any alcoholic beverages in residence hall rooms, apartments or townhouses.
        • La Salle students will be responsible at all times for the behavior of their guests.
        • Students under twenty-one (21) years of age may not possess empty containers of alcohol in any university residence hall room, apartment or townhouse.
        • If alcohol is present for students who are twenty-one (21) years of age or older, the following occupancy numbers must be followed:
        • Residents and guests may not exceed a total of eight (8) in a residence hall room.
        • Residents and guests may not exceed a total of twelve (12) in an apartment/townhouse.
        • Off-campus incidents that involve alcohol consumption by students who are under twenty-one (21) years of age, result in behavior that includes intoxication, disorderliness, or offensive behavior resulting from the use of alcohol is prohibited, regardless of the student’s age and will be subject to the university’s student conduct process.
        • Students are prohibited from advertising parties where alcohol is to be served. Fliers, public social media posts or mass electronic invitations are not permitted.
        • Drinking games or contests are prohibited for students of any age. These games include, but are not limited to beer pong, flip cup and quarters. Simulated drinking games are prohibited, even if there is no alcohol present.
        • Drinking paraphernalia or other items that encourage excessive consumption of alcohol, including, but not limited to, beer funnels/bongs and beer pong tables are not permitted for students of any age.
      • Drugs
        • Students are prohibited from illegally using, possessing, manufacturing or distributing drugs. Distribution includes selling or providing drugs to persons of any age.
        • Sharing or distributing prescription medicine or other legal drugs, with or without the exchange of money, is prohibited.
        • Students are prohibited from possessing drug paraphernalia on university property.
        • Knowingly being in the presence of illegal drug abuse, drug manufacturing, or drug distribution.
  • Additional Notes

    La Salle University Alcohol and Other Drug Amnesty Process

    Student health and safety is a primary concern for the La Salle University community. Students are expected to contact La Salle Public Safety, Residence Life or Community Development when it is believed an individual needs medical attention due to the abuse of alcohol or other drugs including illegal, prescription, over the counter substances. The Alcohol and Other Drug Amnesty Process is designed to provide education rather than discipline when a student voluntarily contacts university personnel (e.g., La Salle Public Safety, an RA/CC or professional staff member in Residence Life or Community Development) or outside emergency services for medical assistance related to alcohol or other drugs. Individuals covered by the Alcohol and Other Drug Amnesty Process are the caller, the person in need of assistance, the host student organization, and any witnesses named in the incident report.
    • The Director of Student Conduct or their designee will determine whether or not the Alcohol and Other Drug Amnesty Process is applicable for each incident.
    • Incidents involving sex discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking shall be covered by the Alcohol and Other Drug Amnesty Process for those students reporting or intervening to prevent harm to a particular student.
    • Incidents involving other violence or serious student conduct code violations will not apply.
    • A professional from the Division of Student Development and Campus Life will contact the student or the student organization involved in the incident to arrange for a meeting.
    • There will be no official student conduct process from the university through the Alcohol and Other Drug Amnesty Process.
    • The person who made the call to university personnel may also be asked to attend a meeting with a professional from the Division of Student Development and Campus Life.
    • At the meeting, the incident will be reviewed with the student or student organization to determine an appropriate educational response, which could include participation in an educational group or class, program presentations, counseling intake session, or substance abuse education and/or evaluation. A response may also include parental/ guardian notification of the incident.
    • If a student or student organization fails to attend the meeting with the professional from the Division of Student Development and Campus Life or complete the educational responses following the meeting, the incident will be referred to the Student Conduct Process.

A link to health consequences of substance use, including alcohol consumption, can be found here.  

A link to federal and state laws and penalties regarding drugs can be found here. 

The range of sanctions applicable for alcohol violations can be found within the Student Code of Conduct in the SGRRR, linked here. 

The Student Health Center, Student Counseling Center, and Wellness Office provide a variety of programs to educate students about the risks and consequences of alcohol and drug use. Those include, but are not limited to, counseling, intervention, and educational programs available to all students.