Liquor agents bust two at Ohio Union

Less than a week after the reopening of Woody's Place, located in the Ohio Union, the bar has served up some trouble for Ohio State. Undercover liquor agents cited two students for liquor law violations in the bar late Friday night, said Steve Hasseman, agent in charge with the Ohio Department of Liquor Control. One student cited was a customer and the other a bartender. 19-year-old Glenn R. Easterday of 133 1/2 W. 10th Ave., was cited by liquor agents for underage purchase and consumption, Hasseman said. The bartender, 24-year-old Scott M. Clark of 252 E. 12th Ave., was cited with allowing persons under 21 to consume alcohol, he said. Both citations are first-degree misdemeanors. If the bartender is found guilty of serving a minor, OSU will have to pay a fine because the bar is on campus, Hasseman said. According to Hasseman, OSU's fine could possibly reach $100 per day for three days or the bar may have to stop alcohol sales for three days. However, if maximum penalties were applied, the liquor license could be revoked, he said. "College kids are going to drink," Hasseman said. "It is part of a changing society. We are going to be most strict when school starts and during special functions." Clark served Easterday after confirming that Easterday's hand was stamped, said Becky Parker, director of the Ohio Unions. The stamp indicates a person is old enough to purchase alcohol, Parker said. "We will not tolerate underage drinking," she said. "We will prevent this from happening again." A representative from Woody's Place will have to attend a liquor control hearing to determine what action should take place, Hasseman said. Both students cited must attend hearings in Franklin County Court, he said. If found guilty, Easterday could face a maximum fine of $1000, six months in jail or both, Hasseman said. Easterday has been referred to the Office of Judicial Affairs, where he will he either have to work with a case manager to arrange sanctions or attend a hearing by a judicial panel, said Stephanie LeDuff, director of Judicial Affairs. If found guilty by the panel, Easterday could face a variety of penalties depending on the severity of the crime and if this is his first offense, LeDuff said. Easterday may be forced to attend an alcohol education seminar or participate in community service hours, but a suspension is not warranted, LeDuff said. Easterday declined to comment and Clark was unavailable for comment. The bar has changed some procedures since the incident, Parker said. In addition to checking stamps at the bar, bartenders will be required to check identification at the time of purchase and additional staff will check customer identification at the door, she said. Staff will also attend alcohol education seminars and attend alcohol training, Parker said.

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