On January 20, 2017, 18-year-old Erica Buschick was found dead in her dorm room at 223 Morris hall, Miami University. Buschick was a first-year student who had moved back in her dorm for the spring semester and was joined by her roommate later that afternoon.
Police report suggest that both students had been consuming alcohol, which they had brought from their homes, and left for a party uptown, that they were invited to. Next day morning, the roommate calls 911, reporting concerns for Buschick’s health.
The actual cause of death has not been announced but the police record suggests that alcohol overdose might have resulted in the student’s death.
The incident has brought the issues of alcohol use on-campus in spotlight again. It creates a need for Miami University to re-evaluate its polices on alcohol use for underage students and to strictly implement them. The incident also calls for cooperation with family of the students to help curb the issue.
The number of liquor law violations have been significantly increasing over the years. According to Miami University’s crime report, 144 students were arrested for violating alcohol law on campus in 2015, while disciplinary actions were taken on 421 other students in the same year. As these statistics hold true for on-campus location, most of students considered are underage. Moreover, Miami University’s Alcohol Task Force Report presents results from a survey conducted on the incoming students, which suggest that the number of student who self-reported as non-drinkers before coming to Miami University is similar to the national average. However, the data collected after 4-6 weeks after moving on campus suggests a 24 percent rate of change which much higher than the national average at 15 percent.
The University officials are well aware of the current concerns and are also working to tackle the issue. Initiatives like ‘Late Night Miami’ and various other activities are hosted on campus by the intention of creating an alternative entertaining interactive activity for students to keep them away from drinking and going to the bars uptown. However, the situation is needs tough and authoritarian actions.
The university is collaborating with students and their families to find better solutions to the problem. The parent and Family Programs calls for family members to get involved in the process by offering suggestions and clarifications on the concern as they are also the members of the community.
In the recent incident, Buschick’s roommate told the police that they had been drinking in their dorm room since evening. She also stated that Buschick got the alcohol from her parents while she carried alcohol from her home and brought it in their room.
The transport and possession of alcohol cannot be forcefully regulated on campus. However, the university aims at increasing emphasis on responsibility. Efforts are being made towards the students focusing on importance of responsible drinking while also making them aware of the consequences. Parents and families are also being reached to prevent such incidents with a better understanding and carefulness of the issue.
With such incidents occurring timely, the university’s efforts seem to lack in efficiency in implementation. Miami University is yet to find an appropriate solution to the issue of underage drinking on campus, which creates a need for re-evaluation of its alcohol policies and better ways to implement them so as to obtain desired results.
Rasika Rane 