The DePauw University’s Activity Report and Clery daily log states that 12 alcohol violations have been reported since the first-year class moved into South Quad residence halls on Aug. 22 2015.
“We have had a lot of alcohol violations calls and we have been called to support CLCD [Campus Living and Community Development] and Campus life with multiple calls,” said director of Public safety Angie Nally.
In August and through the first week of classes there were a total of 80 individuals charged and 70 total alcohol cases, 89 percent of these cases involved first year students.
“There is not a direct comparison, this year's first-year students are a lot different than the freshmen class before them and the class before them,” said Nally.
In the beginning of the new academic year, First Year Residence Assistants and staff worked with public safety to educate the First Years about DePauw’s campus alcohol environment.
“We make sure they are aware that if they call for help with alcohol related incidents that the Indiana State Law protects them as long as they are helping another person who is in need of medical attention,” said First Year Residence Assistant Kady McKean.
First Year Residence Assistants help facilitate conversations and educate first-year students about alcohol and its presence on campus, but they do not influence how alcohol violations are handled by Community Standards.
According to McKean, First Year Residence Assistants encourage first year residents to take a portable breath test, or PBT, if they are ever caught with alcohol. Without the test Community Standards has no idea how much alcohol a student consumed.
“It is just better for [students] to have a documented number to aid Community Standards and it is helpful for the responder or officer on the scene to know if the student needs medical attention or a sober friend,” said McKean.
DePauw’s activity report includes every alcohol violation and reports hospital transports. According to Nally, the majority of recent hospital transports were made for medical reasons and only one student transported to Putnam County hospital after drinking to excess was an upperclassmen.
“We didn’t have a hospital transport for a long time in the first semester last year,” said Nally.
Despite many alcohol violations in South Quad, Nally mentioned that the most serious incidents have occurred with upperclassmen.
Junior and second year resident assistant, Mackenzie Sikora believes there always seems to be a large number of alcohol violations at the beginning of the year, especially when first years are trying to test their limits and prove themselves to their peers.
“I don’t think it’s anything to be concerned about at the moment, but if the trend continues well into the school year that’s when we can decide if there’s a deeper problem,” said Sikora.
Nally is curious to see if this high number of alcohol violations forecasts what will happen throughout the remainder of the year. “As classes are just beginning, we are worrisome and hopeful that this is not an indicator of what the year will look like,” said Nally.
|
|
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Total Individuals Charged |
83 |
33 |
80 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Alcohol Cases |
55 |
24 |
70 |
|
Excessive Alcohol Consumption Cases |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Years |
67% |
55% |
89% |
|
Sophomore |
9% |
9% |
6% |
|
Juniors |
24% |
30% |
5% |
|
Seniors |
-- |
6% |
-- |
The percentages above represent the percentage of total cases.