The Department of Public Safety referred 1,245 students to University Student Judicial Affairs for alcohol violations in 2002, a 171 percent increase from 2001, according to the newest released statistics.
DPS Interim Director Tom Hicks presented the numbers to the Public Safety Advisory Group on Oct. 23, saying the high number of students being referred surprised him.
“We’re dealing with about 30 percent of students in the residence halls with some kind of alcohol violation,” Hicks said at the meeting. “My sense is the University of Oregon is going to get spotted pretty quickly about having one of the biggest jumps in alcohol violations across the country.”
The numbers have been rising since 2000, when 443 students were referred. In 2001, there was a 3.3 percent increase, resulting in 458 referrals. But the number of alcohol violations in 2002 skyrocketed to 1,245, more than twice the total of 2001.
Hicks said he expects this school year to have just as many, if not more, alcohol violations as 2002.
He added that having the officers so close to the residence halls is one reason for so many citations, saying officers are being trained to better detect student drinking.
“The University has drawn a pretty clear line that we are going to enforce rules on campus,” Hicks said. “There is zero tolerance.”
Freshman Hollie Brown agreed, saying DPS is a noticeable presence in the residence halls.
“It’s like they’re always there,” she said.
Hicks said another reason for the increase in violations is that students in the residence halls are less tolerant of drinking and are more comfortable with calling DPS.
Brown agreed, saying that while she enjoys going out and having fun, she gets frustrated when other people are drinking in her hall.
“It’s not fun to wake up at 3 a.m. to screaming girls running up and down your hall,” Brown said.
The Eugene Police Department has also seen a rise in liquor violations, EPD spokeswoman Kerry Delf said. Violations in the West University neighborhood increased 19 percent from 2001 to 2002. In the South Eugene neighborhood, violations jumped 59 percent from 2001 to 2002.
Delf said officers involved with the Party Patrol have noticed parties growing steadily in both size and volume.
“I don’t know if it’s a trend,” Delf said. “But it definitely looks like some jumps.”
Hicks said the best advice he has for students is to accept responsibility for drinking on campus.
“Be responsible when it comes to alcohol and drug use,” he said. “Accept the consequences if you engage in something unlawful or against student conduct code.”