Alcoholism on campus

Sure, many if not most colleges and universities have their set of problems on dealing with alcoholic consumption on campus. If not on campus then it's a problem when inebriated students bring their stupor back on campus after a night of partying. Either way it's a problem. Gallaudet University has its own problem on dealing with alcoholism on campus as well but I see it that they have a unique set of situation on how to deal with students who are deaf and hard of hearing that communicate mostly by signing. My question is do the students at Gallaudet University present its own unique set of situation and problems than students in other universities and colleges? Is there a higher or lower incidence of alcohol abuse among students on the campus of Gallaudet University when compared to other colleges and universities? That's my question.

Gallaudet University is certainly familiar with alcohol abuse and alcoholism on campus. We do know for a fact that there are students who do abuse alcohol while at Gallaudet University. Some may have brought their alcoholism when they entered school and others may have acquired alcoholism while at school and thus bring it with them after they graduate and become a life-long problem. Gallaudet University has done surveys and studies to determine how to rate this problem on campus when compared to other universities and colleges. In one study done in 2005 was the College Alcohol Problem Scale (CAPS) to determine a ranking scale and found that there were more college seniors who reported with more alcohol-associated problems.

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in scores on the College Alcohol Problem Scale (CAPS) among class ranks and gather information about alcohol prevention efforts for deaf college students. Two hundred and eight-six deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing college students completed a 21-item questionnaire. The questionnaire included eight items for the College Alcohol Problem Scale (CAPS), six items related to alcohol prevention, and seven demographic items. Cronbach alpha for the CAPS was .77. A principal components analysis (PCA) was conducted because the questionnaire was given to students for whom American Sign Language was their primary language. The PCA yielded a two-component instrument, which is consistent with other studies of hearing college students. Analysis of variance results indicated a significant difference in scores among college seniors and graduate students, with college seniors reporting more alcohol-associated problems. Comparisons of other ranks on the CAPS scores were non-significant.

This brings up questions of inadequate coping skills once they enter college. A situation many of us are aware of where becoming independent for the first time, away from home but only to face social pressure and wanting to "fit in" would they find drinking alcohol as a way to "solve" that so-called problem. Excuses vary on why students decide to drink excessively to the point of self-abuse risking bringing that abuse after college life.  But Gallaudet University has a strict policy in place on alcoholic consumption on campus and recognize that alcohol abuse is a problem.

Gallaudet recognizes that alcohol abuse is a physical, psychological, and social problem and that it should be treated as such. Within the limits of its available resources, Gallaudet University attempts to inform students and employees of the acute and chronic risks associated with the abuse of alcohol and to aid those with alcohol problems. Various support services, including employee assistance programs and counseling for students, are available for individuals who are experiencing difficulty with the consumption of alcoholic beverages or alcohol abuse.


Students and employees are warned that illegal possession, use, sale, or distribution of alcohol is punishable by law. Further, campus penalties for illicit alcohol possession, use, or distribution on campus are also severe. Students who are found guilty are subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension and the loss of student status at the University. Employees are also subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

Yet according to the CAPS result it is likely that drinking problems still exist on campus at Gallaudet University. I suspect this has to do more with off-campus drinking than stashing drinks in dorm rooms for their own private partying if they can get away with it. There are many students who live off campus in housing rows just outside of Gallaudet University where students can BYOB (Bring your own beer). Keg parties and public on-campus drinking of the past are history. That's the good news, yet the problem is still there. The question is, how much of a problem is it today? Has it gone up, down or stayed the same? That's what I like to know despite the campus climate being substantianly different than it was during the late 1980s and early 1990s when I was there.