With five hospital transports since the end of Winter Term and a total of 33 for the scholastic year so far, excessive campus drinking is still prevalent.
Students-many of them freshmen-are continuing to drink themselves to dangerously high blood alcohol levels despite DePauw's efforts to curb the trend. Yet, according to Angela Nally, director of Public Safety, there is a silver lining to these alarming statistics.
"We have to praise the fact that students are calling for help," Nally said. "We're doing well once they get to that level but how do we step it before they get to that level?"
After Public Safety handles alcohol violation cases at the time of the incident, follow-up is done outside of Public Safety. Students who violate the alcohol policy go through a Community Standards Investigation.
Nally said Community Standards is an internal judicial process. She explained that if Public Safety or a resident assistant cites a student for drinking, then the information is forwarded to Meggan Johnston, director of Community Standards. From there, Johnston decides whether Community Standards has enough information and cause to charge an individual. A meeting with the cited student is arranged, a hearing or private testimony is received, and if deemed guilty, the student is sanctioned by Community Standards within DePauw.
"It's really hard because if you say students' should be more disciplined, people would be afraid to call," freshman Jordan Lienhoop said, "but the rules aren't working."
According to the Campus Crime Activity Report found on the Public Safety page of DePauw's website, 25 of the 33 students sent to Putnam County Hospital so far this year came from freshman housing facilities.
"Drinking is higher among first year students this year than in the past. More of them go through the Community Standards process," vice president for student life and dean of students Cindy Babington said. "I sense that being on the Princeton Review Party list for the past three years has to do with it-we now have three classes of students who came in having seen DePauw on the list."
In 2012, DePauw University ranked 15th on a list of 20 party schools provided by the Princeton Review. Babington said she suspects DePauw's party culture may play a part in attracting prospective students.
"Students are coming to DePauw from high school having had experience with alcohol," Babington said. "They're coming to a more permissive environment, so they probably haven't decreased their drinking."
According to Nally, a side effect of the constant partying is a cluttered campus. Looking to past trends, Nally said she had concerns about the rest of the semester.
"We are entering the time of year where we will see a very active Saturday and Sunday," said Nally. "Our campus isn't presentable on Saturday [mornings] with people coming home from the bars and kicking over trash cans."
She said the administration can't put up certain decorations, like banners, because students rip them from their poles so quickly.
"Why is it okay with our students that other people [and students] tear up our campus?" Nally asked.
Aside from material damage to campus, excessive drinking poses another harmful risk to the DePauw community at large.
Babington explained that while the primary concern is student safety, the second concern is DePauw's reputation.
"When social life tips balances and becomes the prevalent part, that's not a good thing."
Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council are the most recent student organizations to take on efforts dealing with alcohol education.
"We're doing as much education as we can possibly do," Babington said. "We've been doing a lot and haven't made much of an impact, though maybe we're keeping it from being worse in some ways."
Nally recently met with the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils to coordinate alcohol education programs.
"Anytime our students reach out to each other I think it's going to be effective," Nally said. "I am concerned, but optimistic."