In the wake of a week in which law enforcement officers cited 194 people around Duke’s campus for alcohol violations—the largest crackdown in recent memory—administrators and student leaders took Monday to gather information about the situation and consider new long-term solutions concerning the off-campus social scene.
North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement officers, in conjunction with the Durham Police Department, targeted bars, restaurants and large parties Thursday, Aug. 25 and Saturday, Aug. 27, Jeff Lasater, the ALE Raleigh district supervisor said in a statement.
One hundred and fifty-nine people were cited with possession of alcohol by a person under the age of 21, and 22 people were cited for use of fictitious identification. Thirteen received citations for aiding and abetting underage persons and possession of alcohol.
Lasater said ALE also conducted operations at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Stephen Bryan, associate dean for judicial affairs, meets with Duke University Police Department officials and other administrators regularly. Monday’s meetings, which he described as “information gathering,” focused on the week’s events.
Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta said he was not surprised by the zero-tolerance policy law enforcement officials used last week. The local community has complained about student parties and the need for increased enforcement more every year, he explained.
“Although there is a certain sense of college lure and humor about this, much of this is about keeping students alive,” Moneta said, noting several students were taken to the hospital during orientation. “The citations will not result in any kind of criminal record, but it’s a bit of a wake-up call.”
Moneta also said he hopes he can work with student groups to provide more options for undergraduates to have fun safely on campus.
“I’ve talked about for years how we have been focused on how to empower student groups,” Moneta said. “We are trying anything and everything we can to expand the horizon for student social life, understanding it is up to students ultimately to decide on their own.”
Duke Student Government President Jesse Longoria, a senior, said 14 students and five administrators will meet Tuesday afternoon to discuss how to address the partying issue.
“The problem is we don’t understand the root of the problem. That’s why we need to get as many people as possible to the table to start talking through it,” Longoria said. “It’s not a solution; it’s the start of increased dialogue.”
Longoria noted DSG’s primary role is to be an advocate for the students. He said DSG has been working with the administration to find social options for undergraduates other than parties at off-campus houses.
Moneta said the reopening of the coffee house on East Campus, bands at the Armadillo Grill and Jazz at the Mary Lou Williams Center were all efforts to provide a healthier on-campus social scene.
Senior Logan Leinster, DSG’s vice president of community interaction, said only a small percentage of the student population received citations. She added that she would make efforts this year to improve town-gown relations.
“We want to find a balance between students doing what they traditionally do and then not getting citations,” she said. “Hopefully by the end of the week we can have more solid answers about where we are going from here.”
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