By Becca Clemons

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President Eli Capilouto announced revisions to the university’s alcohol policy Thursday, saying that UK will “allow consumption on campus under predetermined guidelines and conditions.”

The changes come after years of tension between the university and surrounding neighborhoods over alcohol consumption and student behavior off campus. But the details are still not clear, except that only people of legal age would be allowed to drink “in prescribed places.” The new policy will be developed this summer through a 15-member task force.

UK is also looking to build a stronger relationship with Lexington police and other law enforcement agencies so that student conduct violations off-campus are reported to the university more often.

UK’s campus has been designated “dry” since 1988, and that policy was revised to include Greek houses 10 years later. Under the current policy, UK prohibits the use, serving and sale of alcohol on campus property and at university events, except at a few locations, such as the Boone Faculty Center, suites and leased spaces at Commonwealth Stadium, and at designated events in the Main Building.

In changing the policy, officials must consider that more than 85 percent of those living in UK’s undergraduate dorms are under age 21. One hope is that allowing on-campus alcohol in some instances could bring upperclassmen back to campus when they are not attending class.

Officials also said data showed that a “dry” campus has only changed where students drink, not how much they drink.

The current policy has pushed parties to off-campus locations and often into neighborhoods where families live, said Roshan Palli, the student body president. “I don’t think a lot of students realize that there are families living right around them,” he said.

In fall of 2012, UK banned football tailgating for one weekend after a fight broke out between fans, and Alcoholic Beverage Control agents issued 66 underage drinking citations. Earlier that year, when the men’s basketball team beat Louisville in the Final Four game, thousands of fans rushed the area around State Street and University Avenue, setting nearly 40 fires and prompting more than 30 arrests. The area saw a similar scene this year during UK’s run to the national championship game.

Those examples are just a few where a “small percent” of UK’s nearly 30,000 students get involved in huge parties where “there’s this kind of mob mentality of extreme binge drinking,” said 3rd District Councilwoman Diane Lawless, who was on the committee that recommended changes to Capilouto and whose district includes UK.

Officials said students’ off-campus alcohol use has been a problem for more than a decade.

“The data obtained from our surveys indicate that UK students tend to have a work-hard/play-hard mentality,” said Andrew Smith, the director of UK’s Office of Substance Education and Responsibility. “In general, they place a high emphasis on academic achievement but also cope with that stressor through risky substance-related behaviors.”

Lawless said the neighborhoods around UK’s campus need “to be safe for everybody, and nobody should have to live in fear in their home whether they’re a long-term resident or a student renting or an adult resident renting.”

The expansion of the Code of Student Conduct beyond campus boundaries could “improve safety and community relations,” Capilouto said. It would include more coordination among Lexington and UK police, the Office of Student Conduct, and BCTC’s student affairs office to report and handle student conduct violations, which include violations of local, state and federal law.

An example: Lexington police made 40 arrests during weekend celebrations following NCAA Tournament games this season. Three of those arrested were UK students, and they are facing university sanctions after their charges were reported to UK police, said Robert Mock, UK’s vice president for student affairs.

“If we become aware, then we take action,” Mock said.

Mock and others said the changes were aimed at improving relations between the university community and Lexington community as a whole.

“These steps will have a positive impact, even in neighborhoods that have been changed forever,” Lexington Mayor Jim Gray said. “And they will provide real support in neighborhoods where there is an opportunity to renew and restore.”

The changes were made after a 16-person committee drafted a report of recommendations. The new committee will start figuring out how to implement the changes this summer. Other recommendations adopted by Capilouto included:

• instituting a medical amnesty policy for reporting potentially dangerous situations, including instances of substance abuse.
• developing a year-round community service program focusing on neighborhoods around campus.
• improving and leasing UK-owned housing in nearby neighborhoods to faculty and staff.
• increasing education and prevention programs for students around campus.

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