Arrests and citations at IU Southeast have jumped from years past. Most of them are related to alcohol.
So far, there have been nine alcohol arrests. Three of them involved students on campus. The other six have involved non-students coming to campus and getting arrested because of alcohol.
Dennis Simon, IUS police chief, said arrests of non-students have been significant.
“Most of them come on campus to visit friends living in the lodges,” Simon said. “They have no real ties to campus at all.”
Physical arrest is reserved for the most severe alcohol offenses. Simon said the major alcohol charge is operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
The next step down is a citation. These are usually given out as a minor alcohol charge.
These minor charges include drinking under the age of 21. This is referred to as minor consumption.
Simon said if someone is caught drinking under the age of 18 on campus, they can be arrested. Otherwise it’s an infraction if the person is between the ages of 18 and 21.
Alcohol arrests and citations are given out if someone is caught in public. Simon said IUS police officers have a few signs to look out for.
“If someone is staggering along, has slurred speech or can smell the odor of alcohol, we see if there’s something going on,” Simon said. “Alcohol has that fruity, sweet smell.”
He also said if the person is non-life threatening, they’re kept in view for 20 to 30 minutes and then released.
Simon said it’s ultimately the officer’s discretion what to do in each situation.
He also said most of the arrests have been in the housing area.
Jim Schlinsog, director of Residence Life and Housing, said it’s not uncommon for campus housing to bring more alcohol violations.
“We’re still a college population and some people will choose to drink,” Schlinsog said. “I don’t think it’s just the non-students coming in. It’s what the visitors do while they’re here. The consequences are a little more stern than they are at other housing units.”
There is a zero tolerance alcohol policy on campus. If a student is caught with alcohol, they have to report to Ruth Garvey-Nix, vice chancellor of Student Affairs.
Simon said he expected more alcohol violations with the addition of the residence lodges.
“Per capita, we’re doing excellent,” he said. “The lodges are new to us and most of the students are adhering to the laws.”
He said the violations have already peaked during the first few weeks of the semester. He said the students living on campus are getting the message and crime is decreasing.
Simon said the police aren’t trying to catch people drinking.
“We are vigilant, but we aren’t hiding behind the corners,” Simon said. “If a student is drinking, I would suggest them to stay subdued and stay in their room.”
If a student drinks outside of campus and comes back to campus, Simon said the police aren’t looking for people going straight from their car to their room. He said if someone is drunk, they bring light to themselves and act out.
However, Simon said it is the job of the IUS Police Department to be looking for the signs of alcohol.
“We have a lot of property to protect,” Simon said. “We don’t have the time or manpower to be everywhere, but we do look for things out of place.”
He said the IUS police officers are focused on protecting the exterior of campus at night, meaning they’re not just watching the lodges.
Simon said he would like to have an alcohol recognition program on campus.
“We know students will experiment and we can’t stop all of them,” he said. “However, we want to educate them on how to stay out of trouble.”
He said he would like several voluntary classes each semester. He said it would be difficult, but he would like to start them in the upcoming spring semester.
All arrests and citations are part of the public record. If a student wants to see the arrests on campus, they have the right to do so.
This is part of the Clery Report, which will soon be re-named Daily Blotter.
It’s currently named the Clery Report because a college student named Jeanne Clery was murdered and raped in her campus residence hall in 1986.
Legislation was later passed to allow all students to see the crimes reported on campus. Simon said this is to let all students know exactly what is happening on their campus.
By JOSEPH DEVER
Staff Writer
jwdever@ius.edu