University asked state police to target their students.
 

What do you think of this sitution? The school contacted the state police and asked them to target their own students.



Fraternal News Groups


Bureau cracks down on underage drinking
By Gina Zotti and Jessica McRorie, Staff Writers

WEST CHESTER -- The state Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement and
borough police showed their presence this past week as 100 citations
were written for underage drinking.

"We have been there before. We were there this past weekend and we
will be there again," said LCE District Office Commander Sgt. John R.
Comerer.

He explained that each district office has been assigned to a
university. WCU asked to be the university this district office
focused on this year, Comerer said.

"Last weekend was great results. We had a couple of big bashes," he
said. "We cooled it for Friday but then snuck up again on Saturday."

Two larger parties were broken up overnight Saturday.

Criminal charges are pending for a 22-year-old West Chester student
for sale without a license as well as citations handed out to 24
minors at the Sunday 400 block of South Walnut Street apartment party.

Another party in the unit block of Price Street was also broken up
Saturday overnight when 15 more minors were given citations for
underage drinking and two kegs were seized by the LCE.

Those citations added to 56 handed out two days earlier at a
fraternity party in the 700 block of South Walnut Street that hosted
more than 100 guests.

Charges are also pending for the operation of a speakeasy, as the
fraternity party last week was a "pay-your-way" event, police said.

At least 71 of those cited between April 2 and April 6 were West
Chester University students, police said.

"We have an alliance with West Chester University," Comerer
explained. "Each year this is a college where we focus on underage
drinking ..West Chester made their pitch the last two years."

The Philadelphia district office, which is a part of state police,
covers Delaware and Chester counties. Comerer said the office has
been present all year, but had not handed out a significant number of
citations until the past week.

But with the warmer weather bringing underage drinkers outside, LCE
members had their eyes on the borough for the weekend in efforts to
use the money in a budget that needs to be spent before the school
year ends, he said.

"Are we targeting? They signed up to be a part of the alliance," Comerer said.

"Through our experience and information, we strategically plan when
we're doing certain things," West Chester Police Sgt. Dan Dixon said.
"We understand with the warmer weather, there will be more activity
outside."

He said the LCE is another enforcement agency the borough police work
in cooperation with on a regular basis.

Dixon said with the increase of vigilant officers, other crimes have
decreased including vandalism, assaults and thefts.

The large parties also worry police when opportunities for injury are present.

One female either fell or jumped out of a second-story window during
the Saturday night bust on Walnut Street, reports said.

"Not that it happens in every case, but if it happens one time and an
individual severely injures themselves or loses a life, it's not
worth it," Dixon said.

Police said that mattresses were put in front of exits, windows were
covered and smoke detectors were disconnected at the party at the
fraternity house last week.

"It had all the ingredients for a catastrophe," he said.

"Suppose there was a fire there. What a disaster that could have
been," said Mayor Richard B. Yoder, calling the fraternity house
"downright dangerous."

He said he had mixed emotions about the activity of the weekend.

"My initial reaction was one of disappointment," he said, noting that
he and the college had put in a lot of effort into communicating with
students about underage drinking and consequences that would faced
under Operation Vigilance.

The program calls for maximum enforcement of state fines, including
the loss of a driver's license as opposed to previous consequences
such as community service.

"Breaks with punishment or charges is sending the wrong message or
not getting the point across at all," Dixon said. Students know what
the penalties are and that they are not negotiable, he said. "This is
the line we've drawn."

He commended the university for attacking the situation from several
aspects, not only in educational programs, but in enforcing its
judicial code.

"The goal is to continue the education level so that the enforcement
level will significantly decrease because of the behavioral changes,"
Dixon said.

To the police and Yoder, a large number of citations does not equal success.

"To have over 100 young people arrested for underage drinking is
disturbing," Yoder said.

"We're not score keeping. It's not a game," said West Chester Police
Chief Scott Bohn. "We measure success by the absence of event."

Brian Cole, of the 300 block of South Walnut Street, said things have
gotten better in general over the past year.

"I think it has. I think the kids kind of know they have to be
careful," said Cole.

"It has gotten quieter," he said.

He said there is still the occasional beer bottle found in his front
yard. Recently, there was a screaming fight that took place in front
of his home but the police came and quickly broke it up.

The area is never going to be perfect, he said. But he is glad to see
that the mayor is following Operation Vigilance through.

Lea Asher, of the 200 block of Matlack Street, moved from California
to the borough in July. She has not noticed a change in the students'
behaviors since then.

Students consistently cut through her yard and take items from her
yard and porch, she said.

"They steal everything that is not bolted down," she said.

She installed a motion detector but it doesn't seem to deter them, she said.

"I just hate them all because of a few," she said.

Ah, the PLCB, always so happy and willing to help. Meanwhile, there was probably some woman down the street calling 911 while her husband beat the shit out of her, but I'm SO glad they busted the 20 year olds drinking a beer instead. :rolleyes:

And yeah, yeah, I know they're breaking the law...IMO this is a morally repugnant law and not one that's deserving of being upheld.

These towns would not have JACK if it wasn't for the college. What thanks do the students get for paying 4 (what am I talking about, 5 or 6) years of tuition and contributing to the town's revenues? Targeted, harassed and unfairly slandered. The chick complaining about the things stolen from the porch? It's more than likely high school students did it.

These cops need to get a fucking life and tackle the problems that arise in their communities that AREN'T caused by the students, because believe me, there are lots and lots of them. Oh, but that might involve having to bust people you went to high school with or something. Sorry, I forgot that if the townies do it it's OK - everything bad is the students' fault.

[end vent]

33girl, I totally understand what you're saying... :mad: The PLCB makes nothing but trouble.

On the other hand, the next time some parent tries to sue a GLO, the school and anyone else in sight, the university will be able to look pius and tell the court that they did everything they could, including sending the "cops" after their own students.

Cynical but pro-active risk management on the school's part.

Its actually a pretty profitable law for municipalities in terms of fine revenues. They make more money and receive more 'prestige' for busting uderage drinkers than they do for domestic violence or even simple assaults.

*shrug* its high profile for law enforcement now.

They should lower the drinking age to 18. :) Then the police can focus on dangerous crimes.

I agree with 33girl and Cream!

What happens when the school sends the cops after their own students and one of those students dies after they jump out a window?





One female either fell or jumped out of a second-story window during
the Saturday night bust on Walnut Street, reports said.

"Not that it happens in every case, but if it happens one time and an
individual severely injures themselves or loses a life, it's not
worth it," Dixon said.


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Then the cops make up something to charge the deceased with like resisting or unlawful flight or whatever, and the university can wash it's hands.

This is a win-win for the university and a lose-lose for the students.

Regarding another post, I agree the drinking age, at least for beer and wine, should be lowered to 18. Of course the problem then would become unlawful drinking of liquor between the ages of 18 and 21 -- just like it was when I was in college and the law was 18 for beer, etc.

DeltAlum,

I'm going to "assume" (you know what that usually does ;)) but I think the penalties for underage drinking now are stronger than they were when you were in school. (For example, losing your license) I think nowadays if you could get beer and not get hassled about it, you might just stick to it and not push it w/ liquor. Plus, we were all so poor that we drank beer out of necessity, not cause we liked it (well, at first LOL).

And I know this is a Pennsylvania thing, but since we have to deal with liquor store hours, beer is usually just plain more convenient.

Actually, when I was growing up in Ohio you had to buy any liquor at a "State" liquor store. You had to go into the store and fill out a form to take to the clerk to get your bottle. Beer and wine were available at "carry out" stores and beer at some grocery stores.

I haven't lived in Ohio since 1974, so I don't know whether they still have that system or not.

We pretty much drank beer most of the time, but either got someone older or a fake ID to get "hard" stuff (see American Grafiti).

In terms of penalties, creative judges could always figure out ways to maximize the damage.

You did make me think about something which is strange. In those days you could get 20 years in a maximum security prison for possession of marijuana. So, now it's allegedly tougher on drinkers and easier on recreational drug users.

Go figure.

Win-win?

Other than an injured student and negative PR what did the school win?

1. A story about students getting busted hurts a school's reputation it doesn't help it.

2. The busted students won't be standing in line to donate money to the university upon graduation. The bust won't increase revenue to the school.

3. Everyone will still drink.

It's easy. They're much less likely to get sued. The PR they can handle. The million dollar lawsuits hit them in the pocketbook.

That's why they call it Risk Management -- which, I think, is really what this is about.

WCU Alum/DPhiE Alum
 

As a greek alumna of the University, a member of the community of West Chester ....this does nothing but scare me. Mattresses in front of Exits! Did anyone hear about the Conneticut Nightclub Fire where numerous people died? I don't know...I liked to party like a rockstar in my day. And yes, I'd be in favor of lowering the drinking age, but safety comes first! There are ways for fraternities & sororities to have parties in a safe & legal environment, where we don't take the risk of some dumb 18 year old blocking the exit of a building or jamming 150 people into a 50 person space where people are drinking alcohol (a fire starting agent) and smoking like chimneys (anonther firestarter) and possibly killing their best friends. It's not just colleges that are cracking down...the clubs in Philly on St. Patrick's Day had lines around the corner...why? Because for once they were abiding by their occupancy codes. Although it sucked to stand in line outside...once you got inside, you could actually breathe & manuver your way to the bar without getting trampled. I don't know people...it's really scary to me some of the risks we are willing to take & defend over getting a load on. Anyone who thinks that trying to keep people safe is stupid because college kids should be able to drink must live under a rock & must have never had a terrible tragedy happen in their life or to someone they know.

As for the person who commented on college students paying 4-5 years worth of tuition to support the community....I'd challenge you to find a campus where the majority of that tuition wasn't coming from mom & dad. Then show them this article and ask them what they think. My parents would have told me that if I ended up in jail or sited because of this...my ass was paying for it and sitting in the slammer. They certainly wouldn't be blaming the police.

Guess I'd better crawl out from under my rock :rolleyes:.

I agree that putting a mattress in front of an exit was tres dumb, but that really has nothing to do with the issue at hand. Perhaps if these kids could either a) gather in their home without fear of getting harassed or b) go out to a BAR they wouldn't have had to resort to such tactics. I have no idea how big the house was that had 100 guests, but some of these 3 story plus basement houses can accomodate that many people among the floors easily.

Oh, and I wasn't aware that West Chester was so affluent, but the majority of Clarion students are on financial aid, paying for their own tuition/housing and often working 2-3 jobs to support themselves. I guess that's why we don't have the money to rent halls and bars to have parties in.

This isn't just about the right of 18-20 year olds to "get a load on" (now there's an attractive phrase). It's about the inanity of society granting all adult rights but one to 18 year olds. (see: 18 year old voting argument)