Student and community safety were the topics of discussion Wednesday at the year’s first meeting of the Campus Community Relations Task Force, a campus-community coalition that meets once a quarter to talk about issues such as student alcohol and drug use, theft and out-of-control parties.
With Halloween fewer than two weeks away, CCRTF members discussed the current trend of alcohol and drug-related student incidents and the potential for a large increase as the holiday approaches. The goal is to help students stay out of trouble and stay safe during the Halloween weekend, said Sheryl Eyster, the associate director of the Office of Student Life.
“We want to make sure students have a safe, fun Halloween,” Eyster said. “We also need to make them understand that they have responsibilities to the community.”
In the past, the Eugene Police Department and the Department of Public Safety have dealt with a large increase in the number of intoxicated students and out-of-control parties during the Halloween weekend, said Randy Ellis, a Eugene police officer. This year the Office of Student Life hopes to decrease the strain on police and DPS by educating students on how to stay out of trouble while still having a good time, Eyster said.
One step that the Office of Student Life is taking is to distribute more than 1,000 goodie bags complete with candy, condoms and pamphlets with information on how to throw a responsible party, how to get help if a party goes wrong and where to go to have an alcohol-free good time.
In addition, there will be activities for all students living on campus, such as movie nights, dances and trips to a local corn maze. The point is to allow students to be able to have a good time without having to drink, Eyster said.
While Halloween is a time of particular concern, the CCRTF also discussed general public safety and how to make life on and around campus safer and more pleasant for students, faculty and community members alike.
One area of concern is the rising rate of car break-ins and theft, coupled with a lack of student education about how to prevent it. According to Jack Backes, the manager of the campus police station, the main problem is that students don’t know how to protect themselves from being victims of theft.
Backes said that to avoid car theft, it is important to not leave anything of any potential value in your car. He said that even something as small as a coat or a backpack left in a back seat could result in a break-in.
“I always say if you want it stolen, put it in your car,” Backes said. “This is an educated campus. What we need to do is educate people so that they don’t become victims.”
Although the majority of the meeting attendees were University faculty or law enforcement, Michael Leeds, a campus-area community member for the past 18 years, came to the meeting to voice concern about another issue that he has seen escalate in the past few years: students’ lack of respect for the neighborhood and its members.
Leeds said that he and his family have been disrupted late at night by groups of loud, drunk students walking through his neighborhood almost every weekend. He said he has even had to physically defend himself against drunk students attempting to destroy his neighbor’s property.
“I’ve come in contact with extreme incivility,” Leeds said. “My neighbors have moved away because of the partying. I’m incensed that I can’t even sleep in my own bedroom at night.”
Although Leeds was disturbed by the disrespect of some students, he said he recognizes that the troublemakers only represent a small percentage of the student population. He said he came to be a spokesperson for a community that is tired of the disturbances going unchecked and unpunished.
Eyster said that she also believes that a few inconsiderate and irresponsible students are ruining the reputations of the student body as a whole, and she hopes that through education and the help of the community, the campus and surrounding area can be a safe place for all of its inhabitants during Halloween weekend and after.
“We’re trying to do prevention work both on and off campus,” Eyster said. “It’s a very collaborative process, and we’re all getting together to come up with ideas to keep students safe.”
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Neighbors want a safe Halloween
Daily Emerald
October 18, 2006
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