Empty bottles of Jack Daniels and Bacardi Razz will no longer decorate UW-Madison dorm rooms.
After reviewing the alcohol policies of UW-Madison housing, campus staff made the decision to no longer allow students under 21 years of age to keep empty alcohol containers in their living areas, according to a letter sent to incoming dorm residents by UW-Madison Housing director Paul Evans.
According to the letter, the policy review was conducted to address underage drinking, the consequences of binge drinking and ways to provide education and resources to residents.
In addition to the prohibition of empty containers, student rooms where both residents are under 21 must be free of alcohol at all times. This includes alcohol consumption by visitors who are over 21.
Evans said the new policies were put into effect to make it easier for housefellows to enforce housing rules.
\We ask them to do a very difficult job,"" Evans said, ""and the presence of empties in rooms where clearly both residents are underage makes it difficult to enforce [the rules].""
UW-Madison sophomore and current Sellery Hall resident Bobby Lau said he was quite upset upon receiving a letter this summer describing the new policies.
""I just didn't understand the reason for [the change],"" he said. ""[My roommate and I] have certain bottles that we have drank and we're proud of it and now we can't display our trophies.""
UW-Madison sophomore Brandon Dudley, who lived in Witte Hall last year, described the bottles he and his former roommate kept as ""one of the cooler things"" about their dorm room.
Dudley said he would fill the empty bottles with colored highlighter to add to the room's d??cor.
""I felt they added some character [to our room],"" he said.
Both students agree the new rules will not deter students from drinking in the dorms.
""I just think it will make people better hiders, better undercover drinkers,"" Lau said.
Nevertheless, Evans said the new rules were implemented to clear up any grey area that exists in the alcohol policy of UW-Madison housing.
""If you're under 21, you can't be drinking,"" he said.
