The alcohol task force at WSU has started tackling problems related to alcohol abuse to make the campus safer for staff and students.

ASWSU President Kyle Erdman said the task force is a recommendation committee for President Elson S. Floyd.

“We have a diverse group of students, administrators and WSU staff to target alcohol issues that we see at WSU and strategically plan a proposal of solutions for them,” Erdman said.

The force is currently addressing the issue of students with higher blood alcohol content levels going to the hospital for detoxification. The number of students going to detox are about the same as last year, but it’s clear that this year students are drinking more than before, said Erdman.
The task force is currently working on a report to present to the Board
of Regents, Erdman said.
The task force also looks into existing programs that currently succeed, could use improvement or could possibly unite with another organization or resource at WSU, he said.

“We have moved past the statistical phase of the research we have at WSU,” Erdman said. “We are now moving on to a three and one plan that focuses on individual solutions, student population solutions and community solutions.”

The future goals of the force include giving a proposal to Floyd that will change the drinking culture at WSU and make students more responsible, Erdman said.

“This will help the overall image of our university,” he said. “We will always be referred to as a party school by most, but I believe this strategy can help us live the best experience possible.”

The university set up the task force to tackle issues of alcohol abuse after the death of 18-year-old freshman Kenny Hummel. Hummel died due to alcohol poisoning in Stephenson Hall on Oct. 27, 2012.

His BAC measured above a .40 whereas a level of legal intoxication is .08.