Property damage is on the rise across campus. A walk down West Pine or through the Village Apartments reveals broken lights and shattered glass lining the pathways. Parking gates have been damaged across campus so often that it has become a nightly occurrence. For these reasons, the Department of Public Safety has reinstated the Alcohol Task Force.

Captain Rick Younger of DPS said that when students become intoxicated their rambunctiousness leads to the destruction of property around campus. Since last semester, Saint Louis University has spent more than $5,000 on the replacement of lights, parking gates and maintenance.

Since the Alcohol Task Force’s reinstatement last week cited DPS has passed out roughly 20 citations related to alcohol. Most violations are either those who are of age supplying minors, a minor in possession of alcohol and open-container violations.

“Most students have been very cooperative,” Younger said.

Those who have received tickets are mostly SLU students, but there are some from off campus who have been written up.

The task force has not been used since the spring 2002 semester. Due to the large number of car thefts and break-ins last semester, DPS forces were more spread out, and there were not enough employees to staff the team.

Teams are staffed by a mix of plain-clothed officers and uniformed officers who will respond to noise violations.

“We are trying to make this an educational process,” Younger said.

Part of the program’s mission is to educate students on the dangers of under-age and binge drinking.