Alcohol-related cases, both DWIs and alcohol violations, spiked during move-in weekend and the early part of the week, according to Campus Police Captain Jon Barnwell.
The spike is something Campus Police is completely aware of and something they deal with every year, Barnwell said.
“[The increase] is exactly what we expect,” he said of the spike in cases. “We always see an increase in alcohol issues at the beginning of the semester. A lot of that has to do with our incoming freshman class being away from home for the first time, being on their own and being able to obtain alcohol without parental oversight.”
Between Saturday and Tuesday, there were two DWIs issued to students on campus and 14 instances where students were referred to the University for violations of alcohol policy.
Brandon Vick, a senior in communication, said the spike doesn’t seem unusual.
“When kids are away from home for the first time, they want to experience college, and alcohol is usually involved,” he said. “Also, Campus Police is probably more aware of alcohol issues because it is the beginning of the semester.”
Barnwell said he agreed and that the spike is usually attributed to incoming freshman who are away from home for the first time and returning students meeting up with friends in a party-like atmosphere.
Chris Austin, assistant director of health promotions for Student Health Services, said the increase in cases could be linked to free time freshmen have before classes begin and a perception about what college life is like.
“Some students come to campus believing they have to drink to fit in with the college lifestyle,” he said. “That perception is simply not true.”
For Austin, who is in charge of the AlcoholEdu program, the most important thing for new students on campus with regards to alcohol is to separate perceptions about college from the reality of the situation.
“Self report numbers are always lower than what people believe drinking statistics to be,” he said. “Most of our students have had a drink in the last year, but fortunately most of them do this in a low-risk drinking environment. One out of five students don’t drink at all.”
Laura Pearson, freshman in management, said alcohol is definitely something new students deal with when they arrive on campus.
“Alcohol is around a lot, but it really depends on the situation,” she said. “In the end it’s up to each student to choose whether or not to drink.”
During the 2007-2008 school year, 42 DWIs were issued to students on campus, a number Barnwell said is normal.
“During the average year we issue 40-50 DWIS to students and between 60-90 total,” he said.
Those students who are referred to the University for alcohol violations will have hearings within the Office of Student Conduct and be sanctioned. Those students cited for DWIs are more often than not suspended.
Paul Cousins, director of the Office of Student Conduct, was unable to be reached for comment about the consequences students who are referred might face.
For Austin, the possibility of consequences does not change the fact that new students need to be aware that perceptions about college may not be accurate.
“Just having knowledge of certain effects or consequences of drinking may not change behavior,” he said. “Hearing consequences don’t become real until they happen. What seems to have a better impact is to change the perception that college students have to drink.”
