Drinking Party Nipped in Bud School has now been in session for two weeks and already there have been a number of situations involving resident students in the new Capital Village residence community. Since move-in day on Sunday, August 25, there have been numerous warnings issued about open alcohol containers and little over a half dozen noise complaints have been issued. Though infringements such as these bring on a mere verbal warning, the consequences can be much more severe. On Thursday, August 29, at 10:45 p.m. police services responded to a noise complaint in the 5000 building of The Village. Upon entering the scene, officer Jarbeck observed open containers of alcohol. As a result, the fol lowing IST majors were issued citations for CC 6308 a (the purchase, consumption, possession or transportation of liquor or malt or brewed beverages): Edwin Miller, age 19 of 6169 Glenn Court, Harrisburg and Matthew J. Miller, age 19 of 60 Geisel Road, Harrisburg. Also involved in this situation was IST major Brian Ostella, age 21 of 217 Aldean Drive, Effert, PA. On Thursday, September 5, Ostella was brought up on criminal charges for furnish ing liquor or malt or brewed beverages to minors. The charges were filed with District Justice Yanich’s office. When asked to comment, officer Jarbeck and Kevin Stoehr, director of safety and police services, were more than willing to comply. At the time of questioning, Ostella’s name had not yet been released and no charges were formally filed. The incident was, as far as they could tell, a drinking party. When the noise complaint was received, police services responded. “Officers became aware and acted. They nipped it in the bud,” said Stoehr Penn State Harrisburg campus is one of the very few Penn State campuses that is not a dry campus, which means alcohol is permitted. Though, as one would expect, the same rules apply here as do everywhere else in Students learn about PSH alcohol policies from KevinStoehr (standing left) and Office Jarbeck (right) By Stacy De Angelo Capital Times Editor in Chief Pennsylvania and are enforced by the Lower Swatara Township police department. To make sure students are aware of the alcohol policy, PSH Police Services, in cooperation with Resident Life and Student Affairs, held an Information Night at the Village Community Center on Thursday, September 6th. Representatives from the three organizations “Officers became aware and acted... You must be aware of what will be tolerated and what won’t.” included Officer Jarbeck, chief Stoehr, officers Young and Hughes from the Lower Swatara PD, Dr. Janet Widolf of Student Affairs and George Young of Residence Life. The discussion included information on both PSH and Lower Swatara’s alcohol policies. Students were informed of the fines that they would endure in cases of underage drinking, public drunkenness and furnishing alcohol to minors. Officer Jarbeck stressed that the fine for getting caught drinking under the age of 21 was punishable by a $6OO fine, whereas the fine for furnishing to a minor could be as high as $lOOO and may even include jail time. She also discussed ways of avoiding penalties and stressed the idea that “impairment starts with the first drink. We can’t stop you from having a drink if you are over 21, but please drink responsibly,” said Jarbeck. When Stoehr addressed the audience, he touched on issues such as the liabilities associated with underage drinking and furnishing to minors. “You need to be aware of who you are let ting in your door and you are responsible,” said Stoehr. “You must be aware of what will be tolerated and what won’t.” Jarbeck added that there are many ways to drink responsibly and you need to enforce PSH and Lower Swatara alcohol policies so that police officers are not “knocking on your door and putting you in cuffs.” There were few questions left to be asked after Jarbeck and Stoehr were through with the abundant amount of info that was given. Student Brian Seaman asked why drinking was not allowed outside of the apartment and why the notion of “your back porch” doesn’t apply to the balcony, hall and stairwells of each building. In response Jarbeck informed the students that “the stairwells present a hazard in the case of a fire. If we see it, we have to enforce it.” Stressing that if a student is seen walking or hanging about outside their apartment in pos session of alcohol, whether it be in a can, bot tle, or cup, they stand the chance of being warned and even cited for the offence. Jarbeck continued addressing the issue of the common area and ways to prevent problems. “You guys got really good at partying and put many of the safety methods dis cussed to good use at Meade Heights,” siad Jarbeck. These safety methods included-being aware of who is entering your apart ment, checking a person’s ID if you are not sure of their age, having someone at the door to keep things from getting out of hand, being aware of who is under 21 and making sure they are not consuming alcohol, and keeping your party out of the common areas. For more information go to Police Services in the Swatara Building or visit: httP://www.hbg.PSu/hbg/alcoholdrug,html. ALCOHOL IMPAIRMENT CHART APPROXIMATE BLOOD ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE I\M'M W 03 .03 .03 .02 02-,.02 j "555" 2 .10 » m m m mjmth&m JUS 3 15 .14 11 10 m^’WSBP 4 20 18 15 13 11 \t« Mlg. mfe* 5 |.25 23 ,A 9 14 13 .11 10 M jflK 6. i .3Ct -,2? Ha '.HI, .17. 15 14 12 11 7 -.21. ’ .20 .18 16 .14 13: unmuv ' MTOttCfTtO 8 i .40r'.36 v ,J0" .26 .23 20 18 .17 .IS! 9 .453 41 .34 .29 .26 .23 20 .19 .17 j SSSSm 10 51 .45 .38 .32 .28 .25 .23 .21 ' . Ifij «iar My «m 9* iM tt era 4rtn» m* Mr. Ml* 1* M. tt M pM MOT «1 w. «f Mr «r I m. at MM> a*w • 1 *«*, ALCOHOL IMPAIRMENT CHART APPROXIMATE BLOOD ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE a*.—^t—* - —*- lfl PMJV9QV 1100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 1 nisi" .03 .03 .02 .02 02 .02 .02 i ----- 2 os ' .ob -jot m .04 .03 .03 "** 3 11 .88- .08 .07 ,06 06 tS5* 4 .15 12 n jBB ''JMB 111 5 .19 16 13 12 11 .08 [ fMM* 6 .23 .19 16 14 .13 11 .10 .09 ! WBtk 7 .26 .22 ,19 .16 15 13 12 11 1 8 30 25 21 19 .17 .15 14 13:»no£piK» 9 : .34 .28 .24 .21 .19 .17 .15 .14 emmuu. : MMALtIKt 10 38 ,31 27 .23 .21 .19 ,17 16 i. My cam frt rtd of on* drtnk par Dm* Officeer Jarbeck handed out Alcohol Impairment Charts (above) geared towards both men and women. Remember that the only safe driving limit is zero.
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