OU President David Boren says frats and residence halls will go dry

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Consumption of alcohol will be prohibited at all University of Oklahoma fraternities and residence halls under new policies announced Wednesday.<br/><br/>University of Oklahoma President

Wednesday, December 1st 2004, 10:45 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Consumption of alcohol will be prohibited at all University of Oklahoma fraternities and residence halls under new policies announced Wednesday.

University of Oklahoma President Dan Boren said the new policies, which go into effect on Jan. 18 with the start of the new semester, are necessary to ensure the safety of students amid a national epidemic of alcohol abuse by underage drinkers.

The new polices come two months after the drinking death of OU student Blake Hammontree.

Drinking is already prohibited at sororities.

Boren said the university will also adopt a "3 strikes policy," under which three violations of university alcohol rules will cause a student to be suspended for one semester.

A hotline will be established for people to report violations of policies prohibiting alcohol use and hazing and there will be an expansion of alcohol education programs.