Taylor UniversityDrug Safety Summary

Written by Chandler Birch

Chandler Birch

Hometown

Billings, Montana

Major

Professional Writing

Grad Year

2014

View all previous student authors

As a general rule, Taylor is an entirely drug- and alcohol-free campus. It's not coincidental; Taylor, understanding the potential harm that mind-altering substances (and addictions to them) cause, forbids the entire practice outright in the Life Together Covenant (LTC), which every student signs at the beginning of each year. Even students old enough to drink legally are not permitted to do so. Consequently, there are no "favorite" drugs on campus, no unique campus drinking games, and no students particularly known for how they can't handle their liquor. Some students regard the LTC's strictures as unfair, particularly those who are old enough to drink. Taylor, in response, points to its faculty, all of whom are old enough to drink alcohol and have signed the LTC and refuse to drink. The premise that the best way to evade an addiction to alcohol is to never drink it forms the basis for Taylor's policy. 

Drugs and alcohol aren't the only addictive substances Taylor takes a stance against, however. The LTC also forbids smoking, pornography, premarital sex, and any other substances or practices which could cause their students harm. These rules are not arbitrary; they are derived directly from Biblical laws with the aim to protect students from harmful things.