Crime on campus: Alcohol, drug violations most reported crime in residence halls

By Lily Martis and Robert Carroll

Liquor law violations ranked at the top of student conduct incident statistics followed by drug abuse violations in the residence halls at Kent State University in the 2014-15 academic year.

Out of the 1,019 overall conduct parent incidents reports in the residence halls that year, 264 were alcohol violations with 1,017 people documented, and 249 were drug violations with 539 people documented, according to Kent State University Residence Services annual security report.

In total, there were 2,609 residents documented with conduct incidents.

These incidents are considered “residence hall policy violations” and aren’t necessarily crimes.

“Certainly, if it’s a crime, it’s also a residence hall policy violation,” Brian Hellwig, Assistant Director of Residential Safety and Security, said. “But we also have residence hall policy violations that are not crimes, such as quiet hours and visitation violations.”

In the case that a crime has been committed in a residence hall, the student is automatically sent to the Office of Student Conduct for a Hearing Panel or a Sanction hearing. In some cases, just a residence hall policy violation can be grounds for a hearing, as well.

This past academic year, the Office of Student Conduct reported that 146 students were referred to their office from Residence Services. This accounts for about 40 percent of their offices’ entire case load for the year.

When a student is found responsible for a campus violation by the Office of Student Conduct, it is put on their student record instead of criminal. Additionally, a $25 fee is charged to their bursar’s account.

The revenue from the fines implemented by the Office of Student Conduct in the 2014-15 fiscal year was $11,115.

In the case that a person is found responsible for drug or alcohol violations, the Office of Student Conduct sends a letter notifying a parent.

Of all of the residence halls, Prentice and Wright halls saw the most conduct incidents last year, according to the annual security report.

These statistics, however, vary year to year depending on the makeup of the students.

“I wish there was a way to predict which halls would be more active,” Hellwig said. “It’s just based upon the students who live there and their behaviors. About 60 percent of our residents are freshmen, and it’s hard to judge what the new class is going to be like.”

So far this year, Verder Hall and Centennial Court F have the most reported crime incidents, according to the Department of Public Safety and Police Services daily log.

Listen to what the residents of these halls have to say about the crimes that take place.

“I would say that our residencies that have a greater student population in them – just because of the sheer number – have more incidents,” Jill Church, Director of Residence Services, said.

The number of alcohol and drug related arrests in the residence halls last year is down from years prior, according to the Department of Public Safety and Police Services. In 2014, there were only 170 liquor law arrests compared to 202 in 2013. There were 61 drug abuse arrests in 2014 and 82 in 2013.

Church believes there are a couple reasons last year’s arrests have decreased.

“One is the staff commitment to engaging the community in positive ways,” she said. “Another thing I think has had an impact is over the last five years, we’ve had a better prepared class academically.”

To prevent crime, Residence Services creates awareness, provides alternatives and confronts and addresses unacceptable behavior, Church said.

“We do what we can to educate, provide alternatives,” she said. “Our staff provides activities in the halls that are not designed around alcohol or drugs so that students have alternatives.”

Additionally, the security aide program employs about 65 aides with anywhere from 12 to 16 aides working per night, Hellwig said. Security aides make rounds every night beginning at 8 p.m. until 2:30 a.m. on weekdays and until 4 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Resident assistants make rounds throughout the nights, as well.

If a student witnesses a crime, Tricia Knoles, Community Resource Officer, advises to report it.

“They can do it anonymously, so they don’t have to worry about any kind of repercussions from the person they’re getting in trouble, especially if it’s their roommate,” Knoles said.

Both security aides and RAs use discretion on whether or not to report a crime to Kent State University Police Department (KSUPD) as some matters can be resolved in-house through the Office of Student Conduct or – depending on the severity – a conversation with the residence hall director, Church said.

If KSUPD becomes involved, they may use discretion, as well, on whether to file a summons or report the crime to the Office of Student Conduct, Knoles said.

KSUPD works with the City of Kent police department to minimize and control crime both on and off campus through joint jurisdiction and mutual aid programs, Knoles said.

If a student is charged with a first misdemeanor offense, like prohibitions, the penalty is typically a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, Knoles said.

However, it usually doesn’t come to that.

“The City of Kent Municipal Court realizes that we are a college town, so for the first offense, the student may choose to do the diversion program,” Knoles said. “They’ll have to do so many hours of community service, a drug and alcohol awareness class and pay a fine, which is typically around $250. After they complete all of that, they can petition for that to be wiped off their record as if it never occurred.”

If they are charged with another drug or alcohol violation before the age of 21, Knoles said the first offense returns to their criminal record, and they’ll pay a larger fine and typically spend a weekend in jail.

There were 73 students last year who had repeat alcohol violations, according to the annual security report.

Halloween traditionally generates the most alcohol incidents on campus, with 11 reported last year, according to the annual report.

With the holiday approaching, KSUPD is educating about alcohol safety in the residence halls and in the Greek community.

“If you’re under 21, don’t drink,” Knoles said. “But if you do choose to, then you need to be responsible.”

Ultimately, safety was the number one goal expressed by KSUPD and the Department of Residence Services.

If you witness any type of crime, have an emergency or need immediate assistance, call 9-1-1.