They can be the three most terrifying words for a college student.
They can cause embarrassment from friends and family and with a maximum fine of $500 and two months in jail could also be a detriment when it comes to applying for jobs after graduation.
For college students under the legal drinking age of 21, the words minor in possession (of alcohol) can ruin the college experience while also serving as a reminder that they shouldn’t drink until they turn 21.
In a two week period in August 2005, history major Mark Reichlin, now a senior, received two MIPs before he started classes at Washington State University.
The first of Reichlin’s MIPs occurred at Sun Lakes Park Resort in Coulee City on a camping trip with friends.
After a night of drinking, Reichlin and his friends were being loud enough to the point it was disturbing nearby campers. The neighboring campers called the park rangers and when the park rangers arrived they questioned and asked the group if they had been consuming alcohol.
After the park rangers searched the grounds of Reichlin’s group they found alcohol belonging to a member of the group, but instead of charging the one person, everyone in Reichlin’s group was issued MIPs.
“I was kind of a victim of circumstance,” Reichlin said. “The last thing I wanted to do was go back home and tell my parents.”
Two weeks later, right before the start of his freshman year, Reichlin was walking on the ninth floor at Stephenson North with a plastic red cup filled with beer when he encountered a WSU police officer.
“I thought the first one was kind of questionable and I was more mad at the cops,” Reichlin said. “The second one I had no one to blame but myself. I didn’t want to tell my parents about the first one, I was terrified about telling them about the second one.”
The penalty for receiving an MIP can carry a maximum of $500 and up to two months of jail time. In Reichlin’s case because of the timing of his court appearances he only had to pay $440 and he didn’t have to serve jail time, but he was ordered by a Whitman County judge to attend alcohol counseling along with substance abuse classes.
Reichlin admittedly blamed himself for the second of the MIPs out of his own “stupidity”, something Patrol Sergeant Sam Sorem feels is the reason why many underage students at WSU are issued MIPs.
According to the Clery Incident Summary from August 2008 to April 2008, a total of 567 alcohol related violations occurred in Pullman. In addition to MIPs, alcohol related violations can include driving under the influence (DUIs) and furnishing to minors, Sorem estimates that 75 percent of alcohol related violations come from MIPs.
“It’s not that we are trying to get people to stop drinking,” Sorem said. “We realize when people go to college, it’s (drinking) something that is associated with every school. We as police officers try to stop the problems, the assaults and vandalisms, that stem when people have had too much.”
Most of the MIPs that happen on College Hill come from students who bring attention to themselves, whether it comes in the form of looking really drunk, being loud, obnoxious, or carrying around open containers like beer cans and “keg” cups Sorem said.
“The worst thing you can do is to try and upset the cops,” Sorem said. “The people that choose to run away from us or yell and curse at us are the ones that end up really hurting themselves. It makes it easier on everyone when people decide to comply.”
Sorem believes the increase in MIPs issued stems from students under the age of 21, more specifically freshman, being away from their parents for the first time and not knowing the dangers too much alcohol can bring.
“Along with the number of MIPs going up it seems like there is an increase in people we take to the hospital for detox,” Sorem said. “Some people don’t realize how much they’ve had to drink, and before you know it their blood alcohol level is between .3 and .4, those are dangerous levels.”
Much like Washington State law, Washington State University has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to underage drinking.
According to the Office of Student Conduct website, WSU students under the age of 21 are prohibited from consuming or possessing alcoholic beverages. Students who are caught with any alcoholic beverages will face the same penalty as Washington State law.
“Every case is different,” WSU Conduct Officer James West said. “The first-time offender will have to enroll in an alcohol impact class that is offered through the school. If the student keeps violating our alcohol policy, the student faces the possibility of expulsion from WSU.”
