Nice weather tests rules

Due to the recent increase in temperatures and nice weather, BVU students have been spending a lot of time outside. Whether it’s been playing lawn golf, bags, volleyball, or just soaking in some rays, students all over campus are taking advantage of the spring season.

The administration likes that students are being active and having fun outside; the only issue is when students bring alcoholic beverages outside with them.

“I’m glad to see students outside and enjoying the outdoors, but open containers outside are still against policy,” Director of Campus Security, Mark Kirkholm said.

Although the University is considered a “wet campus,” students still have restrictions that some feel are unfair or unnecessary.

“I think it is absolutely rediculous that students who are of legal age are not allowed to have an alcoholic beverage outside. This is our home; it is mandatory to live on campus so the rights of students of legal age should be kept. BVU is sending mixed signals as to when it is allowed to have open containers outside. Why can we drink at Johnny Holms, at BVU ball and at the Senior Picnic but as a 21 year old student I am not allowed to enjoy an alcoholic beverage outside unless BVU has provided it?” junior Alyssa Kluver said. “We are a wet campus for a reason.”

According to the student handbook open containers of alcoholic beverages, by those of legal age, is strictly to be in residence hall rooms. These rooms must be those of legal age residents. Privacy is defined as behind closed doors in the handbook.

“I have been here going on 11 years and those policies have been in place for at least that long. A wet campus definition to me means we allow alcohol on campus in some form,” Kirkholm said.

Open containers of alcohol are not allowed outside, nor are they allowed in residential hallways. Any alcohol consumed outside a student room, according to the BVU handbook, must be served by Sodexo under their license.

“The rules are policies the University has put into place. Each college can then set their policies as long as it does not violate state law. Since this is a privateUuniversity, it is private property and the university has the ability to put in place its own policies,” Kirkholm said.

When students are outside playing games on campus property, they cannot have open containers of alcoholic beverages.

If of age, they can be carrying unopened alcoholic beverages across campus and be on campus property, but the minute that bottle or can is opened it is considered an open container and is illegal.

It might be fun to go outside play a game of bags and have a beer, but it is not university policy. As fun as it may be, students will just have to wait until they are no longer on campus to do so.