By Jack Armstrong News Editor
Campus Public Safety’s weekly crime reports have seen a rise in the number of alcohol-related violations reported over the past few weeks. For the past two weeks, over half of the reported contacts made by CPS on campus have been for alcohol-related incidents.
Both CPS and the University Housing Program stated that the rise in contacts made by CPS is not indicative of a wide spread problem on campus, but simply more violations requiring the intervention of CPS.
“In a year [the number of violations] ebbs and flows, there are times where there are more incidents and times where there is less,” said Charisse Loughery, University Housing program coordinator.
Loughery stated, “there might be more incidents being reported to CPS right now, but I wouldn’t say there has been an overall increase in alcohol issues.”
Often, incidents that happen within the resident halls are dealt with directly by either the Resident Assistants or the Resident Director.
“We try to use our RA and RD resources rather than public safety,” said Tina Fuchs, dean of students and judicial affairs. “But sometimes the involvement of CPS is necessary, and perhaps that is what is being represented in the blotters.”
With the end of the term approaching and the summer weather taking hold in the Pacific Northwest, more and more students are looking to spend their free time outdoors. This change in activity could be responsible for the increased CPS activity in on-campus housing.
“Spring hits, and it’s a little nicer out; people tend to be out and about, so we can experience more violations of housing policy in general,” said Fuchs.
Director of Public Safety Rebecca Chiles offered a counter-point, suggesting that the number of incidents overall has remained fairly stable despite the weather.
“In my experience, it’s not unusual this time of year versus any other time of year,” Chiles said. “This is my first year here, but I haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary with the numbers.”
In addition to the restless students at the end of the term, CPS and University Housing are faced with the possibility of a sharp increase in the number of marijuana violations when the fall 2015 term begins.
“We are looking to campaign with a lot of education up-front concerning the marijuana policy. I believe we might have confusion due to the legality in Oregon,” Fuchs said. “I think some kids will think that it will be okay for them to bring it to campus.”
University Housing and CPS were both quick to stress that despite Oregon’s legalization, Western’s campus policy regarding marijuana will be unchanged.
As stated by the WOU student handbook, “the university will initiate disciplinary hearings for possession, consumption, manufacturing, or sale of illegal drugs or any other controlled substance on or off university owned or controlled property.”
“We have to comply with the drug-free schools’ policies,” Loughery said. “We receive funding from the federal government. Our current zero-tolerance policy in university housing will continue.”
In addition to the federal government’s prohibition, Western recently implemented a complete non-smoking policy on campus.
“I expect our marijuana policy will mirror the non-smoking policy that will be taking effect on campus in the fall,” Chiles said.
