Despite an increase in applications and enrollment at Fairfield in recent years, alcohol violations between the 2005 and 2006 academic years decreased significantly, according to the annual Jeanne Cleary Disclosure Report issued by Public Safety.
There were 756 violations in 2006, down from the 862 in 2005. The sharp decline in alcohol violations between the two years prompts insight into what has changed.
“I think we, as a collective alcohol advisory team, are hoping that the strategies we continue to implement and evaluate are beginning to take hold as well as the introduction of new laws in the state of Connecticut that prohibit the provision of alcohol to a non-family minor on private property,” said Jeanne DiMuzio, director of Health and Wellness Education.
Every year around this time, Public Safety and the University release the Jeanne Clery Disclosure Report in compliance with the Connecticut General Statute.
The report covers crime occurring on campus and all incidents concerning Fairfield students.
Frank Ficko, associate director of Public Safety said, “[The report provides] timely warnings of crimes that represent a threat to the safety of students or employees, and to make public their [Fairfield] campus security policies.”
The report says, “Caution should be exercised in making any inter-campus comparisons or ranking schools, as university/college crime statistics are affected by a variety of factors. These include demographic statistics of the surrounding community, ratio of male to female students, number of on-campus residents, accessibility, enrollment”
Besides liquor law violations, other areas mentioned include sexual offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, hate crimes and arrests for alcohol, drugs or weapons.
Acts of burglary, which are defined as the act of breaking and entering with the intent to steal, also decreased, going from 40 in 2005 to 24 in 2006.
Ficko notes that these numbers may not be as dramatic as they seem.
“We are fortunate as Fairfield has always been an extremely safe environment, but there is no ‘magic bubble’ that hovers over campus,” said Ficko. “We count on everyone in the community to serve as extra ‘eyes and ears’ and promptly report any criminal act or suspicious activity directly to Public Safety.”
Niko Valaris ’08 as a second-year RA, did not notice a difference in the number of alcohol violations. He did wonder why the decrease was so great.
“Maybe the deterrents we have in place have begun to have more of an effect,” he said.
“For example, the sanctions the University has in place, such as Alcohol 101 and all the alcohol education speakers the RAs bring in.”
Some students are surprised that the number of alcohol violations has gone down but feel the decrease is due to students’ abilities to keep their parties quieter.
“I think people are being smarter about the storage of their alcohol and they understand the system much better,” said Diana Westcott ’10.
The administration is hoping that this is not the case. However, the continued work on behalf of the University to promote alcohol protection and awareness is working, according to the numbers.
“I think it is very encouraging news that more and more students are making healthy choices about how they choose to spend their evenings,” said Jason Downer, associate director of Residence Life.
“I also think part of the reduction in violations is due to an increased effort by the office of Residence Life, Student Activities and the dean’s office to provide late-night programming in the residence halls, the BCC and off-campus,” Downer said.
“Events such as Stag Wild West Buffet, Club 42 and laser tag have been well attended and have given students something to do until 2 a.m.,” Downer added.
“The increased engagement of the Residence Life staff, the shift in the strategic goals of the university hopefully will continue to impact a continued decrease,” said DiMuzio.
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