The recent criminal charges against four MSU students have sparked debate about the common practice of charging admission to parties where drinking occurs.

Historically, students who host parties, both on and off campus, have required partygoers pay for their share of alcohol.

But on Thursday, police, prosecutors and some students said that practice could change because of more awareness.

Nicole Bukowski, 21, Cassandra Duggan, 20, Laurel Trezise, 20, and Sara Kaufman, 21, face felony charges for selling alcohol at a party that Eric Blair, an 18-year-old Delta College student, attended before he drowned in the Red Cedar River last October.

Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III, said his office charges students two to three times a year for running an unlicensed bar. Unlicensed bar violations fall under liquor law violations and the police department is unable to differentiate between East Lansing establishments and parties.

“I don’t know if we’ll have more of this,” he said. “But we would hope that whenever police encounter this situation then they would make those facts known to us.”

Advertising freshman Derek Brookmeyer said the four women are being used as an example by police to bring more attention to binge drinking.

He said the charges could cause police officers to increase enforcement at parties.

“I don’t think it would (affect my drinking),” he said. “I would be more worried for the people providing, because if I get in trouble something could happen to them.”

East Lansing police Capt. Juli Liebler said when police are called to a party it is typically because of noise.

“If there’s a lot of people there and people have been drinking, then they issue a citation for a noise violation,” she said. “If there are minors there drinking and they call attention to themselves then they will get a (minor in possession of alcohol ticket) or citation as well.”

More than 1,800 people called to complain about noise, but only 545 noise violations were issued in 2001.

But Liebler said it is hard for officers called to a party to tell if admission is being charged.

“Obviously, when the police come to the door, the people collecting money don’t admit that’s what they’re doing,” she said. “We usually find out through undercover officers or other means.”

Lawrence Emery, Duggan’s lawyer, said the law the students are accused of violating is too vague.

“If I attend MSU and I go to a football game to tailgate and take donations from my friends for this tailgate, am I violating this law?” he said. “Why are we selecting these four women out of all of East Lansing?”

Nancy Schertzing, president of East Lansing’s Community Relations Coalition, said she worries when large numbers of students consume alcohol at parties. She lives in an area with a high student population.

She said she is hopeful people will think twice before requiring students to pay for liquor.

“So many things can go wrong when there are a lot of people in a small space and a lot of alcohol being consumed,” she said. “I know there are a lot of people who make mistakes and things are regretted.”

Luscious Delicious, a philosophy and computer science senior, said his house has about two parties a year and the residents ask students to bring their own liquor to avoid getting in trouble.

“We’re definitely more aware,” he said.

Shannon Murphy can be reached at murphy78@msu.edu.