Some of the partying at Saint Louis University this school year has come to a slow-down. The Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol Task Force has come into full swing to prevent alcohol abuse by underage drinkers.
The head of the Task Force, DPS Capt. Rick Younger, reported that approximately 100 students had been caught. About 60 of them are SLU students.
“We want to use the Task Force as an enforcement, but equally as an education,” said Younger.
The education that he spoke of refers to the school’s policy on balcony parties, and that it is illegal to walk across campus with an open alcohol container.
However, the law was not his primary concern. He noted that a study at Harvard University showed that abuse of alcohol leads to failure at school.
It was also noted that physical and sexual assaults are often tied to intoxication, along with vandalism of students’ rooms and property on campus, such as lights.
The vandalism to school property and parental concern about binge drinking became two of the main reasons why the Task Force was formed.
“There were many lights knocked out in rooms and along the campus sidewalks,” said Younger.
The Task Force was used somewhat during the end of last school year, and has not taken any DPS officers away from their regular beats on campus.
The campus is therefore presumed to be as safe as it would be without the Task Force.
While creating the group there was a lot of time spent in explaining the various situations that an officer could come into contact with at a party. The Task Force responds to random noise complaints and calls from workers from Residence Life.
These generally include resident advisors, duty assistants and desk workers.
In the past, DPS officers would report to a noise complaint and give a simple warning, which may still occur due to the fact that the Task Force handles situations at random, or a resident assistant or duty assistant can handle a situation as they see fit.
When the Task Force is called into a situation, typically four officers and one supervisor are used when (occasionally bringing someone from Residence Life).
Last year, parties were broken up by sending everyone home, but now the Task Force calls everyone into one room and has them sit down.
“We now use this method of controlled dispersal,” said Younger.
After everyone is seated, he asks how many people in the room are under the age of 21, and from there those under the age of 17 are separated from the group. “There may be someone’s brother or sister visiting for the weekend,” explained Younger. Once names of individuals are taken, write-ups may be given out.
“We videotape for physical evidence,” said Younger, “which is easier than taking it all with us. Many people don’t like it, but the tape is kept secure between DPS and the Judicial Board.”
When people at the party are too intoxicated to take themselves home, or able to function, the Task Force may call in EMS and have them handle the situation. “This has occurred twice so far this year,” Younger said.
In a previous incident when dealing with the Task Force, student Jessica Lang said that officers came to the door with a representative of Residence Life, and said they were responding to a noise complaint. The representative from Res Life walked though and saw nothing. DPS officers claimed to smell alcohol on the girl’s breath.
“I explained to them that my friends and I had been at a bar earlier, and that those attending were over 21,” said Lang.
Despite there being minors in the room, no write-ups were given out because no alcohol was found.
When asked if the Task Force dealt with underage students being caught off campus, Younger stated that the Task Force does not deal with those situations.
Nevertheless, DPS does work in conjunction with Missouri State Liquor Control and makes a report if it is learned that an establishment is not carding or is serving to minors.
Since the start of the fall semester the Task Force has primarily been dealing with the Village Apartments, Marchetti Towers and Grand Forest Apartments, but they plan to soon stretch more into DeMattias Hall and the Griesedieck Complex.
“We use much latitude in how stern we act, but that will diminish the more they (Task Force) go out,” Younger said.
There is a concern that this is the first act in making SLU a dry campus, but Younger said that was not the plan
Earlier in the semester, Younger told The University News that many college students believe drinking alcohol is “right of passage” on college campuses. He and the Task Force are working to dispel this myth on campus.
