News Editor, News Reporter
CMU Student Services is reaching out to State Liquor Enforcement in an attempt to resolve miscommunication regarding approaches used to reduce and eliminate underage drinking on campus. After an enforcement activity carried out by the Grand Junction Underage Drinking Task Force on Oct. 26 resulting in student MIPs, Student Services received reports from eyewitnesses that they believe indicate a few unfounded citations.
“We have reason to believe there were unfounded [MIPs],” said John Marshall, Vice President of Student Services. “That allegation is not a great thing to be bouncing around, so I think we just need to get in a real meaningful conversation with State Liquor Enforcement about how we avoid that kind of thing.”
According to a weekly report issued to CMU Student Services by State Liquor Enforcement, the sting carried out on Homecoming night distributed 22 citations to students. The report also notes that at least four citations were distributed in CMU parking lots while one included another charge for a fake I.D.
“The bottom line is everybody can agree we want to reduce and eliminate underage drinking,” Marshall said. “Unfortunately I think there’s been some times where we haven’t always seen eye to eye on how we approach the issue.”
Student Services is particularly concerned about EUDAL funds, a collaborative grant between Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, Grand Junction Police Department, and State Liquor Enforcement to reduce underage drinking that has resulted in what Student Services refers to as targeted enforcement acts.
“They do very sort of targeted enforcement activities, so they’re not out every weekend,” Marshall said. “Obviously you wouldn’t broadcast you were doing an enforcement activity ahead of time. I think the issue is we can better coordinate those things and come up with better outcomes for students.”
According to the Grand Junction Underage Drinking Prevention Task Force website, the initiative began back in 2002 to address growing concerns of underage drinking at Rock Jam. The task force reportedly eliminated transports to the emergency room for underage drinking for four consecutive years, ultimately leading to a comprehensive program for the entire valley.
Though the Task Force couldn’t be reached for comment, their website claims that “the primary focus for enforcement efforts deal with not only targeting the youth that consume and/or posses alcohol, but also the adults that provide or sell alcohol to youth.”
Obviously there is an appropriate time for enforcement measures,” Marshall said, “but we feel really good about the approach we’ve taken in terms of really trying to use educational opportunities, and the reality is that’s been real affective for us.”
Student Services is optimistic about the upcoming exchange and hope to make progress early this week.
“We’ve had really good relationships and dialogues with both the Sheriff’s Office and of course Grand Junction PD,” Marshall said. “I think our relationship with State Liquor Enforcement is the place where we need to try and build some more bridges.”
cferganc@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
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