Despite a UW-Madison project receiving $486,000 in grant funds aimed at curbing campus binge drinking earlier this month, some UW-Eau Claire students do not think similar action is needed here.

The grant money will go towards Madison’s anti-binge drinking project called Policy Alternatives Community Education Coalition.

The project supports a ban on drink specials at bars. It also looked into the problem of binge drinking at house parties and the policy of notifying parents of their children’s alcohol violations at college.

Some Eau Claire students said they think parents should not have a say in their social life at college.

Senior Katie Howell said drinking is a regular part of college life.

“It is ridiculous to call parents,” Howell said. “We’re adults.”

Another way the Madison project is trying to limit binge drinking is by working with local taverns in an effort to stop late-night drink specials aimed at students.

Eau Claire Associate Dean of Students Bob Shaw said the campus had routine conversations and plans on talking more with local tavern owners.

Some students said they think even the campus does not have the right to say how much students should drink.

Junior Sean Fiedler, a Madison native who frequents bars on Water Street, said he is opposed to the university telling the bars anything.

Paul Del Toro, owner of Pioneer Tavern, 401 Water St., declined to give his opinion on the banning of drink specials but said he understands the university wanting to take a stance.

“They have the students’ best interest in mind because they have a job to do,” Del Toro said.

Shaw said he doesn’t think Eau Claire’s campus has as many problems with binge drinking as Madison.

“Madison has been known as a party school and Eau Claire does not have that reputation,” Shaw said.

A fall 1998 survey at Eau Claire showed 55 percent of the campus doesn’t binge drink.

Eau Claire also has an alcohol task force with similar goals as Madison’s PACEC project.

At this year’s orientation, the university presented parents and students with information about issues they may face on campus, Shaw said.

There is more binge drinking at house parties than the bars because they are unsupervised, Del Toro said.

Junior Kristin MacDonald agreed with the theory.

“You drink a lot right away before the keg runs out,” she said.

But some students think the issue should be left alone.

“Drinking is your own preference,” Howell said. “They shouldn’t interfere.”