news-record.com

GREENSBORO — UNCG campus police appear to be making a concerted effort to curb illegal alcohol use around the university, according to a new safety report.

The number of arrests for liquor-law violations totaled 189 last year, up from 150 in 2007. In 2006, the number was 117. The statistics are based on the calendar year.

Liquor-law violations include manufacturing and selling stills, furnishing liquor to a minor, and — the most common violations — underage drinking and walking the streets with open containers.

Campus police Officer Marcus Graves said student behavior regarding alcohol has worsened during his four-year tenure.

“I don’t know why they do it,” he said. “Maybe because the parties increase around here. I don’t know because we do our best to try to educate the people before we cite them.”

Graves and other officers talk with undergraduates at university orientation programs and host drunken-driving simulations to warn them about the perils of alcohol abuse.

Under the Campus Security Act of 1990, university police are required to report crime statistics to the public by Oct. 1 of each year.

The 2009 report states the number of arrests for violations continue to mount inside dormitories or other on-campus residences and on public property adjoining the campus.

The number of those violations in residence halls doubled from 43 in 2007 to 86 last year. Violations on nearby public property increased from 56 to 72.

Police Chief Jamie Herring said students and nonstudents around campus seem to break laws more, but officers and housing staff are growing more vigilant.

“I think some of it is the officers are looking for it, and some of it is we have worked with the housing staff to recognize things more.”

Mary Hummel, UNCG’s director of housing, said residential advisers are trained to report every violation they see to the police.

For instance, individual possession and consumption of canned or bottled beer or unfortified wine is permitted in students’ rooms if occupants are at least 21, unless prohibited by specific dorm policies.

She said students are taking more responsibility for their community.

“I think it’s a combination of people reporting to the RAs and the RAs reporting to the police,” Hummel said. “It’s really a community effort.”

The police either charge violators criminally, in which they face court fines, or refer students who breach the Student Code of Conduct to the Dean of Students Office for discipline.

Students could be subject to community service, suspension, substance abuse assessment or writing a lengthy report on alcohol abuse.

Hummel said the process is geared toward helping students gain life lessons.

“It’s certainly an educational process to addressing violations,” she said.

“We’re trying to help students learn.”

Contact Dioni L. Wise at 373-7090 or dioni.wise@news-record.com