Possession and Use of Alcohol in Designated University Housing Policy - NMU Policies and Requirements

DEFINITIONS
Upper-Division Housing: University Housing consists of Residence Halls and Apartments. All apartments and some residence halls have been reserved for students who have reached upper-division status. Currently, this Upper-Division Housing is defined as housing areas set aside for students who: 

• are 21 years of age or older; or
• have lived in a college or university residence hall for at least four semesters; or
• are a graduate student; or
• are a veteran with one-year active-duty military service.  

Meeting one or more of these eligibility criteria does not authorize a student to possess or consume alcohol outside of the designated Upper-Division Housing areas or in any location where alcohol possession or consumption is otherwise prohibited by University policy or Michigan law.

Currently, Spalding Residence Hall, Spooner Residence Hall, and University Apartments including Center Street, Norwood Street, Lincoln Singles, Lincoln Townhouses, and Woodland Park are all designated as Upper-Division Housing; additional areas may be designated by Housing and Residence Life. 

Responsible alcohol use: The University defines responsible alcohol use as consuming alcohol only as permitted by University policy and Michigan law, maintaining personal accountability, respecting others, and ensuring that alcohol use does not create a disruption, safety concern, or negative impact on oneself or the University community.

Where & When Alcohol May Possessed and Consumed 

Apartments and Student Rooms in Upper-Division Housing 
Alcoholic beverages may be possessed and consumed in apartments and student rooms located in Upper-Division Residence Halls: 

• Residents who are 21 years of age or older may possess and consume alcohol in their rooms and apartments. 
• Guests who are also 21 years of age or older may consume alcohol while visiting. 
• Residents and guests under the age of 21 may be present, but they may not be provided with or consume alcohol.  

Television Lounges in Upper-Division Residence Halls (Spalding and Spooner)  
When residents and their invited guests are 21 years of age or older, alcohol may be responsibly possessed and consumed only in the designated locations and during the designated times listed below:

• Spalding Hall: Residents and their invited guests may responsibly possess and consume alcohol in the Spalding Hall basement between 8:00 p.m. and midnight.
• Spooner Hall: Residents and their invited guests may responsibly possess and consume alcohol in the Spooner Hall television room between 8:00 p.m. and midnight.

Common Areas in Upper-Division Housing
Group-sponsored activities in Upper-Division Housing which include alcoholic beverages may be held in approved common areas only. In addition, the appropriate registered student governing organization and the Resident Director for Woodland Park may designate a common area for their hall. 

Only one common area may be designated in an apartment building or residence hall at any given time, and the main residence hall lobby may not be designated as a common area. In Upper-Division Housing other than Spalding and Spooner television lounges, all alcohol must be removed from public spaces by 2:00 am (Spalding and Spooner have a television lounge alcohol curfew of midnight).  

Reservations of Common Areas in Upper-Division Housing
A common area may be reserved on Friday or Saturday (or on other days for special events) between noon and midnight. Only registered student organizations from the designated residence hall areas may reserve a common area for a social activity where alcoholic beverages will be available. 

The group must submit an "Approval Request for Group-Sponsored Activities Including Alcoholic Beverages" to the Woodland Park Apartment Coordinator at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the activity. The request will be reviewed and approved by the Apartment Round Table.

Group-Sponsored Activities Including Alcoholic Beverages
When a Group-Sponsored Activity includes alcoholic beverages, residents and their invited guests may consume alcohol only if they are of legal drinking age and in accordance with University policy and Michigan law. Residents and their invited guests who are 21 years of age or older may consume their own alcoholic beverages or alcoholic beverages provided by the sponsoring group.

Alcoholic beverages provided by the sponsoring group may be purchased using funds derived from the group's membership; however, student activity fees collected as part of residence hall room and board fees may not be used for this purpose. Alcoholic beverages provided may not be sold. Alcoholic beverages brought by residents or guests may not be sold, distributed, or provided to others.

Group-Sponsored Activities Including Alcoholic Beverages must meet the following requirements:

• Attendance is limited to members of the sponsoring residence hall group and their invited guests.
• Each member may invite no more than one guest.
• All guests must be at least 21 years of age.
• Members under 21 years of age may attend but may not possess or consume alcohol.
• The activity organizer must provide the Resident Director with a list of all individuals who will be admitted to the event at least 24 hours before the event.

The attendance list must include:

• Name
• Address
• Date of birth
• The resident host/hostess responsible for each guest, and
• Individuals responsible for supervising the event: it is the responsibility of those students planning the activity to ensure that the activity is properly supervised by members of their organization.   

Other University Expectations

Rights of Residents 
The right of residents to an environment in which they can study, sleep, and enjoy the peace and quiet at any time supersedes the privilege of possessing and consuming alcoholic beverages.  Students and their guests who possess or consume alcohol in conjunction with this policy are expected to always be respectful of others and must honor all reasonable requests from them with respect to their right to a quiet living environment.

Conduct
Responsible alcohol use is defined as consuming alcohol only as permitted by University policy and Michigan law, maintaining personal accountability, respecting others, and ensuring that alcohol use does not create a disruption, safety concern, or negative impact on oneself or the University community. The conduct of residents and their invited guests must be in accordance with responsible alcohol use, the regulations and ordinances of the University and the liquor laws of the State of Michigan including but not limited to, the age of the purchaser, furnishing alcoholic beverages to a minor, transporting alcoholic beverages, and falsely representing age by a minor.  At no time should a party atmosphere (e.g., excessive noise and/or large numbers) exist in either a student room or other area designated for the consumption of alcoholic beverages.  Complaints regarding inappropriate behavior related to the possession or consumption of alcohol will be processed in accordance with the appropriate University policies, procedures, and practices.

Transportation of Alcohol Beverages 
Open containers of alcohol, including open cans, bottles, glasses, cups, mugs, or any other container that is not factory-produced and sealed, are not permitted outside of student rooms, designated television rooms, or designated common areas used during an approved group-sponsored event.

Alcoholic beverages may be transported to or from these designated areas only in their original, factory-produced, sealed containers.

Clean-up and Damage  
Residents will be held responsible for cleaning any approved common area immediately after their activity.  In addition, residents will be responsible for all damages, including those caused by their guests.

Cancellation 
The Associate Vice President for Northern Student Experience, or their designate (i.e., Director of Housing and Residence Life, Associate Director of Residence Life, Coordinator of Apartment Services, or Resident Director) may decide that an individual or individuals has abused the privilege of using alcoholic beverages in accordance with this policy and as a result may suspend this privilege for a period of time and subject to any terms and conditions as deemed appropriate. In addition, the Associate Vice President for Northern Student Experience, or their designate may decide that this privilege may be revoked for varying other reasons (including but not limited to health or safety concerns, weather, facility issues, poor planning of event, etc.).