The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

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Police, University ready to enforce alcohol codes in fall semester

With alcohol-related arrests on the rise, SIUC Police and Carbondale Police are both preparing for the influx of students in the upcoming fall semester.

While some campus police credit the rise in drinking violations to more aggressive enforcement or more efficient policing off campus, SIUC Police Capt. Todd Sigler said this increase could be related to a number of things, including an increase in home football games or a rise in student attendance.

"We haven't instituted any program," Sigler said, "or made a conscious decision to focus efforts in [alcohol-related arrests]. What you're seeing is natural numbers in dealing with these incidents as we observe them."

Sigler also said the increase could be the officers, and perhaps they thought an arrest was more appropriate than just a referral.

"There is really nothing special that drives the numbers," Sigler said.

Alcohol-related arrests on campus are up 13 percent from 2002 to 2003, a large drop from the 48-percent increase seen from 2001 to 2002.

DUI arrests on campus were almost twice as high in 2003 than in 2002,while illegal/underage possession arrests on campus are down 33 percent from 2002.

Carbondale Police Interim Chief Steve Odum said when school starts in the fall, Carbondale officers adjust their staffing where it is needed, but they have no strategic plans.

Arrests that are alcohol-related have also increased for the city of Carbondale. DUI arrests are up 5 percent from 2002, while illegal pssession and consumption arrests are up 50 percent from 2002.

"Our goal is more to maintain a steady level; a level we can sustain all the time, rather than a big push one weekend," Odum said.

Ed Jones, director of University Housing, said housing is not going to catch everyone, but will make students aware of the consequences of consuming alcohol illegally on campus to help them make the right decisions.

"We don't push for a goal," Jones said. "We don't use the numbers to gauge how we enforce the situation."

SIUC Student Health Programs coordinator Ken Culton said the Wellness Center tries to infom students of the consequences of underage drinking and to give them the knowledge of what to expect if they choose to drink.

"I'm not on the Strip at 2 a.m., " Culton said. "My intervention can't occur until after the fact."

Culton agrees there has been an increase in referrals and believes it could be due to more assertive enforcement.

After a student is guilty of a second infraction, they are referred to Culton where they will receive an assessment. From there, they will receive either mandatory education or counseling.

Carlos Del Rio, University Housing coordinator in community standards, deals with many of the conduct code infractions that come through University Housing. Del Rio said when student are admitted, the University looks at their development holistically. The Univesity looks at alcohol consumption from a disciplinary point of view and wants to work with individuals in addressing concerns with alcohol.

"It doesn't matter what a person does when they leave here," said Del Rio. "If they do have a problem with drinking, it will follow them where ever they go."