2008 Woodie Awards
Campus drinking down
Decline a reversal of last year's trends
Rhiannon Sawtelle
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: News
Chief of Campus Police Noel March announced to the General Student Senate that crime and alcohol incidents on campus are down.
He said that alcohol-related incidents are down 42.86 percent since last year at this time and illegal possession of alcohol by a minor incidents are down 65.66 percent. This is a reversal of the 135 percent increase in alcohol incidents in the fall of 2006.
The recent addition of the Recreation Center this semester and its late hours may have contributed to this decrease. The implementation of the First Year Residential Experience may be a factor as well. Lauri Sidelko, Director of Alcohol and Drug Education Programs, said if students are more active in the events, they will drink less. "The FYRE program and the recreation center in the area are more engaging," Sidelko said.
FYRE, covering all of Hilltop, Androscoggin, Cumberland and Gannett halls, was implemented this year to provide first-year students with programs, resources and services to increase their academic and social success.
"Even if you haven't made friends, you can go to the Rec Center. Alcohol is not the only social lubricant," Sidelko said.
"We have seen a decrease in numbers of students who violate conduct code," Sidelko said.
For the first time, the Alcohol and Drug Education Programs have seen a decrease in referrals in the month of September, usually their busiest month. This decrease in office visits is allowing the program to put on more activities in resident halls.
"This is a big difference. There was nothing going on in past years," Sidelko said.
Knox Hall Resident Assistant Toby Porier noted that some first-year residents seem to be leaving on weekend nights and returning later.
Morgan Taylor, a Somerset hall resident, said she often leaves the FYRE dorms to drink elsewhere. "I mainly stay on campus, but I do go out occasionally," she said. She also mentioned she frequently went to Hart to drink with upperclassmen.
He said that alcohol-related incidents are down 42.86 percent since last year at this time and illegal possession of alcohol by a minor incidents are down 65.66 percent. This is a reversal of the 135 percent increase in alcohol incidents in the fall of 2006.
The recent addition of the Recreation Center this semester and its late hours may have contributed to this decrease. The implementation of the First Year Residential Experience may be a factor as well. Lauri Sidelko, Director of Alcohol and Drug Education Programs, said if students are more active in the events, they will drink less. "The FYRE program and the recreation center in the area are more engaging," Sidelko said.
FYRE, covering all of Hilltop, Androscoggin, Cumberland and Gannett halls, was implemented this year to provide first-year students with programs, resources and services to increase their academic and social success.
"Even if you haven't made friends, you can go to the Rec Center. Alcohol is not the only social lubricant," Sidelko said.
"We have seen a decrease in numbers of students who violate conduct code," Sidelko said.
For the first time, the Alcohol and Drug Education Programs have seen a decrease in referrals in the month of September, usually their busiest month. This decrease in office visits is allowing the program to put on more activities in resident halls.
"This is a big difference. There was nothing going on in past years," Sidelko said.
Knox Hall Resident Assistant Toby Porier noted that some first-year residents seem to be leaving on weekend nights and returning later.
Morgan Taylor, a Somerset hall resident, said she often leaves the FYRE dorms to drink elsewhere. "I mainly stay on campus, but I do go out occasionally," she said. She also mentioned she frequently went to Hart to drink with upperclassmen.
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