OXFORD, Ohio -- Miami University is working to combat alcohol abuse and sexual violence on its campus after a 2015-16 school year marred by troubling allegations about some on-campus fraternities.
The university suspended three fraternities in September 2015 for hazing practices that included forcing new members to drink excessively and taking inappropriate photos of intoxicated students. Two more were suspended the following April for similar violations.
Freshmen at Miami are required to take two short online courses that focus on sexual assault and alcohol before the school year officially begins.
“It totally makes sense because we are all freshmen,” said incoming student Alan Pat. “We’re pretty young, and it’s the first time to leave our parents."
Pat said it took him about two hours to complete the courses.
Miami University is making its Freshmen take 2 courses on alcohol & sexual violence before school even starts @WCPO pic.twitter.com/rJrRDpH96Q
— Ashley Zilka (@ashleyzilka) August 19, 2016
For freshmen who aren’t as prompt as Pat, there will be consequences: they will not be able to drop classes, change classes or register for spring session without completing the two tests.
“What we really want to do is make sure the students are equipped with the resources they need to enter a college environment and the understanding that these issues of alcohol use and sexual interpersonal violence look very different than they did in high school," said Rebecca Baudry Young, director of Miami’s office of student wellness.
Freshmen who haven’t yet set aside a few hours to complete the courses still have a while to get them done; classes at Miami University begin Aug. 29.
