Report: Campus Drug and Alcohol-related Offenses on the Rise

Although 67 off-campus liquor referrals were made in 2010, the total number of on-campus liquor referrals reached 204, a dramatic increase from the 29 reported incidents in 2008.

“We can only speculate what students are doing,” said DPS Captain David Carlisle, “but we are seeing students put themselves in a position where they cannot take care of themselves.”

Carlisle says that incidents have arisen where students are mixing energy drinks and alcohol. This combination, he says, keeps students awake and many of them choose to drink more. This puts more students in danger and risks their lives. Last year, more than 100 students have been transported to the hospital drug and alcohol related issues, according to Carlisle.

To avoid these problems, DPS has modified their policies to address drug and drinking referrals over the past three years. In 2008, DPS policy said only the host of a party would receive a referral to Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards (SJACS) if there were underage drinkers at a party. In the last two years, any student found on the premises of underage drinking would be cited and referred to SJACS.

Carlisle said one of biggest differences from previous years comes from the level awareness amongst residential coordinators and advisors from Residential Life. According to Carlisle, residential advisors and coordinators have made more referrals compared to years past, allowing a higher level of moderation of residential colleges than off-campus areas, like the Greek Row.

On a better note, the number of hate crimes committed over the last three years has remained at 0.  Also, the number of forcible sex offenses dropped from 9 in 2009 to 5 last year.