By Jaden Lechelt
A 52 percent rise in drinking violations over the last three years on Edgewood College’s campus has the Residence Life Department concerned.
The 2017 Security and Fire Safety Report showed that in 2015, there were 61 drinking violations. In 2017, that number rose to 93.
However, the report also indicated that there were 22 drug violations in 2017 compared to 27 in 2015.
“I’m not sure what the cause is for this problem,” said Edgewood College Director of Security Michael Metcalf, “but I do know that Edgewood College is working to get these numbers down.”
Director of Residence Life Claire Mand said that “alcohol misuse is a real threat to the health, safety, and success of college students.”
In efforts to combat this problem, Edgewood College has recently partnered with Connections Counseling to provide education and intervention services for students disciplined for drinking and drug violations.
One of the services provided is BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention of College Students).
Another service offered is CASICS (Cannabis Screening and Intervention of College Students).
Both consist of two individual meetings between the student and counselors. Alternatively, students may be sanctioned to attend CHOICES, which consists of two group sessions.
It is clear that Edgewood College is looking to do more than just punish students for these violations. “With this change,” Mand said, “we hope that the money students need to pay for the counseling sessions, rather than going towards fines, will be better put to use.”
The Security Department is also looking for ways to improve on this problem. Although the numbers are relatively low, drinking violations “will always be an area of concern,” Metcalf said.
The number one priority for the Residence Life Department is the students, especially students living on campus. Mand said that “ultimately, we want to help improve students’ understanding of the implications of misusing drugs and alcohol and the possible impacts on their success here at Edgewood and beyond.”
Post your comments