2014 sees rise in on-campus alcohol-related incidents

There were 15 percent more alcohol-related incidents in 2014 than in 2013, according to Public Safety’s Annual Security and Fire Report. The report shows that there were 138 incidents in 2014, compared to 120 the year before and 124 in 2012.

Randy Burba, chief of Public Safety, said that between Aug. 31 and Oct. 7, there have been two incidents of students requiring ambulance transport due to alcohol. When deciding to send someone to the hospital, Burba said that there is a certain protocol when making that assessment.

“There is a consultation with a higher medical authority, typically (the Orange Fire Department), who conducts a battery of tests to assess a person’s level of danger,” he said. “If they feel a transport is necessary, they will transport.”

Joshua Leung, a resident adviser in Henley Hall, wrote in an email that alcohol poisoning or overconsumption is a common issue among first year students.

“Freshmen are inclined to party heavily their first few weeks of school, and definitely are experiencing the ‘free from authority’ syndrome, where they feel like they don’t need to live by anyone else’s standards and just go wild,” Leung wrote.

Madi Spiegel, a sophomore integrated educational studies major, agreed with Leung.

“First year students are more susceptible to drink too much because they just got to college and probably have never been away from their parents for so long,” Spiegel said.

More than 70 alcohol-related incidents have occurred so far in 2015, according to Burba. He said that more students have to be transported to the hospital due to alcohol around holidays and large events, such as venue parties or concerts.

“People tend to drink more in social settings such as these and some drink heavily before events because alcohol is not available at the event, or they are underage and will not be able to get alcohol at the event,” Burba said.

Hospitalization from alcohol consumption results from students who don’t know their limits when it comes to drinking, according to Leung.

“Many people have been sent to the hospital because they don’t know how to responsibly drink or control their behavior,” Leung wrote.

Resident directors Kevin Nicholson and Nathan Worden declined to comment. Resident Director Anne Harmon and Deborah Miller, the director of housing and residence life, did not respond to The Panther’s request for comment.