The "Reputation" of Frostburg State University

            Getting to know someone, you ask all the basics such as, name, age, profession, where you are from, and what school did you graduate from if you did.  When someone answers with, “I graduated from Frostburg State University,” what is the person’s next response? It typically follows, “Oh, you like to drink.” The correlation with underage drinking and Frostburg State University are closely related, but it not as big as a concern as to how it is portrayed today. The issues of engaging in underage drinking at many different universities are tolerated to an extent. But many universities have their “own reputation” which is created by the social norms the students practice over the years. Unashamedly, Frostburg State University’s “reputation” is characterized as a “big drinking school.” Article from, "USA Today" shares, "When Jonathan Gibralter became its president, Frostburg State University was known as a school for those who'd rather party than study." This statement is neither shocking nor alarming, but after research, it is surprisingly proven wrong of its own reputation. Statistics have proven the decrease in misconducts due to the violation of underage alcohol consumption and possession. All in all, Former President of Frostburg State University, Gibralter's vision was to "Rebrand Frostburg State University by reforming it."

            With the strong notion of Frostburg’s students’ involvement with the drinking and partying, the numbers of citations are actually and surprisingly decreasing. Speaking with underage students at Frostburg State University, students are indeed defending their school’s “reputation” by participating in the drinking festivities that take place surrounding the university. Many students proudly claim the title of being “a drinking school,” but Student Conduct Administrator of Frostburg State University, Carl W. Crowe argues the fact that the issue of involvement with alcohol and underage students are notably going down with the amounts of handed out citations and documented violations. Whether these drinking citations correlate with possession or consumption of alcohol, the statistics show the decrease in this issue of topic. Crowe reveals, “The National trend is working in our favor.” He points out that the new trend is focusing on the use of marijuana, lowering the consumption and involvement of alcohol. He believes that the statistics of Frostburg resembles the National trend. Also, Crowe mentions that Frostburg State University and University Police all work hand in hand with the Frostburg Community Coalition. The program was created in 2011 to bring awareness to the issues that correlate with the youth access of alcohol. The coalition encourages the safety of the use of alcohol to ensure the well-being of underage consumers. Due to having such a reckless “reputation” on drinking, Frostburg and its community do its best to take certain steps to protect the safety in the community with the issue of underage drinking.

             While it is strongly important to analyze the issue of underage drinking, the trend of the number of the statistics of alcohol related citations and documented violations also depict the decrease of the issue, but not necessarily masking it. It would be naive to say that the goal at a university is to get rid of the issues that involve drinking, but merely find ways to help enforce safety and deter students from their involvement with underage drinking. Operations Lieutenant at Frostburg State University, Scott Donahue recognizes the matter, but most importantly shares how the safety of students is his first concern. He discloses, “Parties are still up. Our biggest point is to get the party broken up and shut down.” Whereas, a freshman contradicts his beliefs and shares, “When you’re at parties, being sober is not fun.” While underclassmen participate with underage drinking and promote such behaviors, and encourage the parties, the matter of fact is, the drinking citations are decreasing throughout the years. Lieutenant Donahue has the same insight as Crowe shares, “the use of alcohol has declined. The choice is now marijuana.” Granting that the National trend.

            Interviewing a couple of underage students that attend Frostburg State to get insight from the direct source itself, one freshman blatantly shared, “I now know what being “Frostburg” drunk means.” With that being the prevalent idea of the student body concerning alcohol, it is disconcerting to the community of Frostburg. Chairman of the Board of License Commissioners, Michael Griffith shares that there have been zero licenses permanently revoked within the city of Frostburg to his acknowledge and he has been a member of the Board of Commissioners for 10.5 years. On the contrary, he reports, “Indeed, many alcohol related criminal incidences in Frostburg are tied to underage consumption of alcoholic beverages.” Freshmen have shared their opinions on drinking which all mainly conclude the fact that drinking is the favorable pastime. As a result, preventions and consequences are readily and strictly enforced.

            In the contrast of the surprising fact that the alcohol violations are decreasing, nonetheless, the issue still remains standing. So now the issue focuses on the actions the school takes to deter underage drinking or even so promote the safety that is affected by it. As mentioned, Crowe handles majority of the cases that involve students who violate the Code of Student Conduct. One may ask what the “Code of Student Conduct?” is.  It is simply Frostburg Community’s standards and expectations of behaviors, rules, and regulations. Getting more in depth with the consequences, Frostburg State University’s sanctions for alcohol violation are broken up into the categories of which number violation this is for the student, in the sense that if it their first, second, or third violation. Clearly, the consequences become more serious, and the fines go up. Crowe reveals that the alcohol assessments and alcohol modules are primarily trying to educate and help the student understand the severity of the issue so it does not lead them to bad situations that are harmful. As Crowe discusses the complexity of the issues and the consequences sufficiently, he then took a brief moment to contemplate his answer to the question, “What is your main concern with this issue?” He sincerely, responds with, “Drinking to the point which they put themselves at risk.” Crowe’s main goal is to simply educate his students on the matter but while understanding the fact that underage drinking at college will remain a perpetual problem.

            The issue is there. The statistics and trends portray a positive view on the issue, but that does not change the facts. Frostburg State University’s “reputation” does not make this issue appropriate. Instead, it gives an honest truth of the inevitable.