Berry College has been a dry campus since its founding, however this does not stop debate among students and faculty about the justification for the policy. 

Some students think that the alcohol ban is for religious reasons only, but officials say religion is only one of the many reasons for the restriction. Dean of Students Debbie Heida said the rule has been in effect since the beginning of the school.  

“Students think that we’re imposing a moral choice on them,” Heida said. 

While the morality of the issue is a concern, the safety of the Berry population and the view of the college community are the main focus of this policy, she said.  Heida also said that out of all of the colleges she has worked for Berry has the fewest cases of sexual assault and destruction of property. Those types of incidents are often the result of irresponsible student drinking. The policy is in place to protect Berry students, not to impose religious views, she said.

While the morality of the issue is a concern, the safety of the Berry population and the view of the college community are the main focus of this policy, she said.  Heida also said that out of all of the colleges she has worked for Berry has the fewest cases of sexual assault and destruction of property. Those types of incidents are often the result of irresponsible student drinking. The policy is in place to protect Berry students, not to impose religious views, she said. 

A common question among students is whether or not the new stadium will affect the policy. But Heida said the same no-alcohol policy will be upheld even after the stadium is built. Unlike at many other college gamedays, tailgaters won’t be able to drink alcoholic beverages before the game.   

“We are going to have to do a lot of education,” Heida said. “Our message is the same to everybody. You can have fun without alcohol.”  

However some students have a different view, especially those who are of legal drinking age.  

“There are already students who drink alcohol in their rooms,” junior Dudley Dickerson, a management major said. “I don’t see how changing policy would affect the campus much.”  

When students are asked to think about the potential benefits from changing the policy however, many cannot find an arguable benefit. One of the main concerns expressed though is drunk driving.  

“There would be a lot less people going out to drink and then driving back in cars,” Robert Padgett, a freshman dual-degree engineering major said.  

Drinking and driving is not just illegal, but in many cases fatal. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and about a quarter of those crashes involve an underage, intoxicated driver. If a student needs information on the dangers of underage alcohol usage, the peer educators can give both educated and non-judgmental help.   

Junior Peer Educator Alex Sorohan said that there are programs that can help students understand about how alcohol can affect their choices. 

“We’re peer educators,” Sorohan said. “We’re here with you.” 

One of the highlights of the dry campus policy is that it also allows students in different years to mingle more, since it affects all of them. 

“I want it to be an inclusive community across class lines,” Heida said. “Alcohol doesn’t always permit that.” 

The dry campus policy will remain in effect for the sake of the community’s view of Berry and for the health of its students, she said.