Laura Hunter
Reporter

Prospective students might not learn about PLU’s dry campus policy from admissions

By Laura Hunter

A prospective student comes to PLU for a tour. He meets with his admissions counselor; he goes on a Red Carpet Club tour. He may never be told PLU has a dry campus policy.

None of the published materials given to prospective students mention PLU is a dry campus. Not the view book; not the course catalog. The most likely way for a prospective student to learn about the policy is by word of mouth or by reading the student conduct guide.

It is important that prospective students know what to expect at PLU. Abby Wigstrom, admissions counselor, said, “When I present PLU to students I always talk about the campus community and atmosphere—it’s one of the best qualities of this place!”

PLU doesn’t hide the fact that there is a dry campus policy. If asked, the admissions counselors will answer questions about campus policy candidly. “The Admissions office does not have cookie cutter answers to any question about the PLU experience.

“Each of us answers questions regarding every aspect of the university as honestly as possible and this includes the dry campus policy and the reality that some students choose to ignore the policy.” Wigstrom said.

Members of Red Carpet Club also have to field questions about drugs and alcohol on campus from prospective students.

“We tell our student callers to be candid and positively honest based on their own experience at PLU,” Wigstrom said, “Prospective students and families appreciate getting straightforward answers and that is strongly valued and respected in the Admissions office.”

Laura Polcyn, vice president of admissions, said a dry campus keeps levels of drug and alcohol use down, but there are always instances people don’t know about.

She said while some students might choose not to come to PLU because it has a dry campus policy or because it doesn’t have a Greek system, many students choose to attend PLU for the same reasons.

Wigstrom said the abuse of drugs and alcohol is an important issue that shouldn’t be taken lightly. “It’s extremely important that students making a decision on where to go to school understand the values of the community they are joining.”