The October drowning of a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse basketball player in the Mississippi River and seven other drownings there since 1997 has caused a debate over public intoxication in La Crosse.,”
Drinking is part of the culture on many college campuses, but recent alcohol-related tragedies in La Crosse are causing city leaders there advocate for a public intoxication ordinance.
The October drowning of a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse basketball player in the Mississippi River and seven other drownings there since 1997 has sparked a debate over public intoxication in La Crosse.
Under the ordinance, violators would be issued a written warning for the first offense and a referral to attend an alcohol education program conducted by the La Crosse Police Department. A citation would be issued if the person does not attend the session. A first-citation conviction would result in a $222 fine. Subsequent convictions would result in a $537 fine per offense.
The city Common Council voted Feb. 8 to delay a vote on the ordinance until March 8 at the request of student groups who wanted more time to educate students on the details and consequences of the ordinance.
"We wanted a referral to be able to inform students with what's going on with the ordinance," said Ryan VanLoo, president of the UW-La Crosse Student Association. "We wanted to take a look at it to see how it would affect students on campus and off, and we wanted to be able to look at the effectiveness of the punishment."
Student groups from UW-La Crosse, Viterbo University and Western Wisconsin Technical College, the three area colleges, will be holding a town hall meeting on Feb. 20 at UW-La Crosse to discuss the ordinance, VanLoo said.
He said student government at UW-La Crosse does not have an official position on the ordinance. The student senate, which decides the official position, may decide on one during any of its weekly Wednesday meetings, he said.
The ordinance would crack down on people who are "impaired, mentally or emotionally, as a result of the presence of alcohol" in their bodies, according to the proposed ordinance. The ordinance would target intoxicated persons presenting "a danger to themselves or others" or who "create a public nuisance" in public places. Establishments with liquor licenses would not be affected.
At Marquette, public intoxication and other behaviors involving students off-campus can be referred to the university, according to page 223 of the student handbook. That is the only mention of public intoxication specifically in the handbook.
"What that policy is referring to is if we are informed by any agency of a student being intoxicated, it doesn't matter if it happens on campus or not," said Stephanie Quade, associate dean of student development.
If an underage student goes down to bars on Water Street with a fake ID card, "MPD may refer the incident to Public Safety. Public Safety will definitely direct it to the Office of Student Development," Quade said.
Underage drinkers, whether intoxicated or in the presence of alcohol, must go through the conduct process, Quade said.
"If you're just walking down the street and you're stumbling or passed out outside, we would address that through the conduct process," Quade said. "If a student is of age, we would try to address it educationally."
In Milwaukee, there is no ordinance against public intoxication.
But those who exhibit profane, loud or boisterous behavior in public could be charged with a disorderly conduct citation, according to Sgt. Paul Riehle of the Milwaukee Police Department's third district, which encompasses Marquette's campus.
People who are "drunk in public, acting in a bad manner" would be issued a disorderly conduct citation, Riehle said. The fine is $175 for each offense. If a large group of people is affected by someone's behavior, the person could be charged with disorderly conduct under state regulations – a Class A misdemeanor that carries along a sentence of six months in jail.
The state charge of disorderly conduct rarely happens, Riehle said.
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