Augustana administrators like to keep tabs on the student body, especially when it comes to topics like alcohol and drug use. But students aren't always truthful when it comes to their social activities and the powers that be.

Every other November, Augustana College delivers the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey to each student's inbox. The last survey, conducted in the fall of 2009, revealed interesting findings about the influence of drugs and alcohol on the student body. But if students don't answer questions honestly, these results turn out to be nothing more than a joke.

Augustana began using the Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) survey in 1993, and has offered it to the student body every other November, one week before Thanksgiving since.

The survey Augustana uses is a nationally recognized drug and alcohol survey, supplied by the Core Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The purpose of the survey, according to the Core Institute, is to "help any institution understand the drinking and drug norms of their college campus."

Augustana Dean of Students Jim Bies said the college uses the AOD to compare Augustana with other four-year colleges and the data set is equally distributed across the student body.

"It's an environmental survey," Bies said. "And what we're most concerned with is what students believe to be the environment on Augustana's campus."

The survey's key findings, according to a presentation compiled by Bies, revealed that men at Augustana drink 13 percent more than women and students over-estimate their classmates' use of alcohol.

"Augustana students believe that 82 percent of their classmates use alcohol at least once a week, but only 34 percent of students report drinking once a week or more," Bies said.

And while the survey does consider alcohol a type of drug, results are available for specific drugs as well.

"Over 90 percent of students said they would prefer to not have drugs available at the parties they attend," Bies said. "In 2001, 86 percent of students felt that way at Augustana, so that has been consistent over the years."

Given these results, Bies believes in the AOD as a tool for the administration to see into the students' perception of their school and their peers.

"We've got a lot of confidence in the Core survey, that's why we do it every two years," he said. "It's important because it gives the college a chance to see how Augie students view their college compared to other schools."

This confidence, however, may be unfounded, as students don't seem to take the AOD seriously. Of eighteen students studying in the Huddle, sixteen admitted to lying on the AOD. Two consented to interview, yet would not allow their real names to be published for fear of administrative repercussions.

Taylor, a member of the class of 2013, took the AOD in November of 2009. Like many students, the lure of a possible prize was enough motivation to complete the survey.

But Taylor, who had never drank or taken drugs, lied pervasively throughout the survey.

"I figured other people lie about what they actually do, so I was going to lie about what I don't do," Taylor said. "And my piss is clean, so if they tested me, I wasn't going to get in any trouble."

Unconcerned with personal repercussions, Taylor also didn't worry about institutional repercussions.

"I thought the school was smarter than to use those statistics," Taylor said. "I think in general, most people probably lie."

And even though Taylor wasn't participating in any substance abuse, Taylor sees it as an element of the college experience – a facet Taylor believes the administration doesn't understand.

"I think they know some things go on, but I don't think they have any idea to what extent, to where it's coming from, or who is doing it," Taylor said. "Just because a kid looks good, doesn't mean they aren't partying."

Sam, a member of Augustana's class of 2011, proves Taylor's point. A Dean's List scholar and student who strives for excellence, Sam also partakes in recreational drug use.

"I've never done anything but pot; it hasn't been a gateway drug, and I've done it for quite a while," Sam said.

"I didn't start using regularly until freshman year of college," Sam said. "But during breaks, I didn't experience a moment of sobriety."

When Sam opened the invitation for the AOD survey, it wasn't a question of taking the survey or not. Like most students, the possibility of a prize at the end was incentive enough. But Sam had no intention of revealing the truth.

"I've read 1984 one too many times, and while I'm not a conspiracy theorist, I know they're watching," Sam said. "While I was underage, I lied about my alcohol usage, and I've always lied about my drug use, because I generally have a fear of authority."

Despite hiding the past, Sam would have questioned the administration's decisions behind the AOD survey anyway.

"I'm not sure how this is even useful as a demographic tool if they can't trace things back, so I never trust the degree of anonymity offered," Sam said. "And honestly, what's the point if you're truthful or not – I haven't noticed any substantive change in policy or use on campus."

That said, being a recreational drug user does not shame Sam in any way. Lying on the AOD, according to Sam, related more to the possible ramifications than the social standing.

"I'm fearful of the legal and academic repercussions that would stem from my choices," Sam said. "But my decisions have not affected the academic or personal parts of my life at all."

And with others on campus, Sam doesn't feel the need to hide or recant beliefs.

"I'm pretty honest about it, as far as my peers go," Sam said. "I'm not ashamed of it in any way."

Although both Sam and Taylor expressed concern over administrative reactions to their choices, they were both candid about their decisions.

Their claims of blatantly lying on the AOD survey provide evidence that shatters the administration's confidence in the survey's effectiveness.

Director of Campus Safety Rick Tupper recognizes that drug abuse is an important issue, but said that at the present time, most resources are focused on issues related to alcohol abuse.

"We [the Alcohol Advisory Council] have not focused much on drug use due to the low percentage of people who report using illegal substances," Tupper said.

But taking the actions of Taylor and Sam into consideration as possible norms could mean the administration is directing their prevention programming at the wrong areas.

Sam argued for greater transparency between administrative groups and the student body.

"I think more open communication with the whole student body will help get us in contact with those who are on the brink of no return," Sam said. "There are people who've had a lot of write ups, alcohol poisoning – they should be getting the focus."

Whether or not Sam's lying on the AOD survey is the norm, Sam's drive and ambition is what faculty and staff expect from students. As a senior about to graduate, Sam sees the gap between administrative beliefs and student realities widening.

"Really," Sam said, "if I'm the standard of who you're trying to punish, then it's a misguided effort."