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Some drinking guidelines for the under-21 sect ■ Although drinking alcohol under the age of 21 is a punishable crime, if you must, here are some basic rules when the cops come knocking on the door By Tony Chiotti for the Emerald If you are underage, and you choose to drink in Eugene, the op erating phrase is Caveat Potor: let the drinker beware. “We have quite a reputation for issuing a lot of alcohol-related cita tions,” Sgt. Rick Gilliam of the Eu gene Police Department’s Campus Team said. » a a a a a Reporter’s NOTEBOOK “Our marching orders are zero toler ance. For those students new to the University, or to Eugene, it is important to under stand the house rules involving al cohol. Expect no nods, winks or warnings from the EPD. “I think it’s a foregone conclu sion that there’s going to be under age drinking at universities,” said Gilliam. “There’s going to be tons of people out there drinking alco hol, not knowing what the conse quences are if they get caught.” Some students have already ex perienced those consequences. “It’s a calculated risk every time you go out drinking on the town,” said recently-turned 21-year-old senior Bill Beutler, whose most re cent citation, for misrepresentation of age, resulted in 6 months of le gal woes, 80 hours of community service and a $400 fine. “If you’re at a party and you can escape, by all means, escape,” he said. "Save your own skin. People will understand, even if you can still see the scar two years later.” Beutler rolled back his sleeve to display the jagged result of a drunken leap over a chain-link fence. “I’ve been at parties where I’ve given up backpacks. The backpack costs $25. The beer in it costs $10. The smokes cost five. You’ve got to look at the larger picture.” A minor in possession citation currently brings a $250 fine. According to Gilliam, having al cohol in your system is enough to constitute possession. “We don’t give breathalyzer tests in that situation,” he said. “It’s based on observations such as the smell of alcohol, horizontal gaze eye tests, balance or if the person admits to drinking.” Because it is a non-criminal vio lation, the burden of proof is very low, said Ilona Koleszar, an attor ney with ASUO Legal Services. “They don’t need a lot besides these so-called ‘objective’ stan dards,” she said. Koleszar advises students to give the police as little ammunition as possible. “There is no penalty for refusing a sobriety test. If he asks you to blow on his face or onto his flash light, decline,” she said. No matter how agitated the offi cer becomes, or what they claim to be the law, you have a constitu tional right to remain silent. Exer cise it. “It’s really hard to say nothing,” Koleszar said. “The temptation is to try to talk your way out of it, schmooz the guy a little, make an explanation. You’re trying to please the officer, hoping he’ll just let you go. “But they won’t let you go. They ticket everybody they can possibly ticket. If they don’t give you the ticket, they don’t get the money." Later, in court, you can attack the officer’s observations one by one: someone spilled beer on you at a party; you’d been drinking O’Doul’s; you’d been up all night studying, hence the bad balance and diction, etc. But the less you give them in the first place, the less you have to ex plain away. Do not, under any cir cumstances, admit that you have been drinking. You are not required to identify yourself, either verbally or with Police vs. Students A sobering look at the issue physical identification. “If you refuse to tell them who you are, you should expect to be detained,” warned Koleszar. “If you have truthfully told them who you are, you have no obligation to prove it to them. You’ve told them your name and they can do with that as they will. But if you’re go ing to give them your name, it darn well better be the right name.” Once you tell the officer your name, Gilliam said, the police will verify your identity and age through either their own database or through university records. If you are underage and have been drinking, take the MIP. Do not dig yourself in deeper by trying to pass yourself off as someone else, no matter how well you think you know their information. Do not give the officer a false ID. If you have a false ID in your wal let, refuse to present physical iden tification. You have nothing to gain by complying, and the odds are good that you might hand them the wrong one. “They seem to have X-ray vi sion,” Koleszar said. “You’re flip ping through your wallet and they’ll say ‘Oh, what’s that?’ and they’ve got you.” Tu rn to Drinking, page 8B Keep MUSIC in your life at the University of Oregon Do you sing or play an instrument? Use it or lose it! Join one of more than 20 performing ensembles, or broaden your knowledge by taking a music class. School of Music classes and ensembles are for all students, not just music majors. Auditions and placements are September 20-24 at the School of Music for the following UO ensembles: Oregon Wind Ensemble • Chamber Choir University Singers • University Symphony Oregon Jazz Ensemble • Symphonic Band Jazz Lab Bands • Jazz Combos • Percussion Ensembles • Opera Ensemble • Women's Chorus • Collegium Musicum • Gospel Ensembles • Brass Choirs • East European Folk Ensemble • Vocal Jazz Ensemble Men's Chorus* • Campus Band* Oregon Marching Band* *no audition necessary For more information about enseihbles or music classes for non-majors, contact the School of Music at 346-3761. Check the School of Music web site for our concert calendar and much more: musicl .uoregon.edu Hot off the press and into your hands Oregon Daily Emerald Circulating 10,000 papers daily
