What does it take for a college to keep their students sober? Threats of arrest? Expulsion? The University of Pittsburgh is in the process of expiermenting with something else: free T-shirts and books, gift certificates and perhaps free parking.

These rewards are part of a test to transform two of the university's biggest dormitories, namely Towers A and B, into Pitt's first alcohol-free residence halls. Pitt is beginning the program due to the fact that a larger-than-expected number of students -- a third of the freshman class and a quarter of its 5,000 campus residents -- have expressed written interest in an alcohol-free dorm.

At a recent school trustees meeting, officials said that the two circlular high-rise towers could hold up to 1,400 undergraduates... in a nice, non-smoking zone, to couple with the alcohol-free proposition.

To date, about 1,240 students have signed a pledge to refrain from residence hall drinking, even in their rooms, as part of their housing contract.

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