Earlham has no policy regulating the personal use of
alcohol by faculty. We have as a community approved the statement
of Community Principles and Practices, which includes the following
statement concerning alcohol.
The problems associated with alcohol abuse on
American College campuses have become startlingly acute and troubling.
Binge drinking is notorious and widespread. Campus vandalism
is, more often than not, linked to alcohol abuse. Sexual assault
and other forms of physical and emotional violence usually involve
alcohol or illegal drugs.
Quakers have offered a range of responses to issues
connected with the use and abuse of alcohol. Some feel strongly
that abstention from alcohol is a religious imperative and that
alcohol mars one's body and defiles something granted by God.
Other Friends have emphasized moderate drinking rather than total
abstinence.
As a community, the College aspires to help those
who are abusing alcohol and other substances. We try to listen
non-judgmentally, offering information about sources of help,
refusing to enable people to continue in harmful patterns, and
working to create an environment free from addictive practices.
Against this background, the College has set the
following policy with regard to alcohol.
The College prohibits the use of alcohol at all
College-sponsored student events, and on campus grounds, defined
as College-owned property and facilities, and including College-owned
student housing, but excluding private residences. The College
does not seek to regulate the personal use of alcohol off campus
by faculty, students of legal drinking age, and staff. However,
the College does expect all community members to observe relevant
laws under all circumstances, notably the proscription against
serving alcohol to minors.
Leaders and participants of off-campus programs
are encouraged to discuss carefully, as a group, the educational
opportunities and challenges that arise when living in a culture
whose prevailing attitudes, laws, and expectations about alcohol
use may be different from our own. Off-campus programs should
develop group understandings of how best to balance the need
to participate appropriately in a foreign culture, to respect
the sensibilities of individual group members, and to best represent
the Earlham community in other parts of the world.
Violations of the alcohol policy may result in
judicial action by the College and/or criminal prosecution.
Possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs
by employees is prohibited by Earlham. Violations can result
in sanctions up to and including dismissal.
