Alcohol, drug violations up at MSU, report shows
Every category of alcohol and drug law violations at Missouri State University was up in 2013 from the previous year, according to a report released by the university Tuesday.
The report is federally mandated by the Clery Act and requires colleges to report crimes that occur on campus properties or on public property adjacent to the campus and any fires that occur on campus.
Missouri State's 36-page Annual Security and Fire Safety report also includes select policies to aid students in reporting a crime and supportive resources for crime victims.
Mike Jungers, MSU's dean of students, said he was not surprised to see the increase in alcohol and drug violations.
"It seems like there's a culture of alcohol consumption ... I don't think it's unique to Missouri State."
Arrests and tickets issued for students with alcohol violations on campus increased 144 percent from 2012 with 22 cases in 2013, and arrests and citations for drug violations increased 71 percent with 48 cases in 2013.
There were 638 alcohol violations resulting in a referral for disciplinary action in 2013, up 8 percent from the previous year. Drug violations went up 11 percent from 2012, with 68 cases in 2013.
MSU's Springfield campus has over 22,000 students.
While the university has put an emphasis on combating sexual assault, following the national focus on the issue, Jungers said programs to educate students on the consequences of drug and alcohol use have not been much of an MSU focus in recent years.
And, he said, most of the training that is available is not mandated.
"As I look at these numbers, I think that's probably something we need to return to having," he said.
Starting this semester, new and transfer students, athletes, residence hall workers and new-student orientation leaders are required to take an online course in sexual violence prevention.
Part of university culture?
Justin Johns, a drug and alcohol counselor at MSU, created a program this semester to help students struggling with substance abuse: SoBear: Bears in Recovery.
A survey conducted on campus found that 5 percent of students identified as being in recovery or sober from a substance abuse addiction, Johns said.
He said an alcohol or drug violation does not necessarily indicate abuse, but it could lead to it. He favors more education on the personal consequences of criminal drug or alcohol use.
"We don't provide any preventative measures for students coming in about alcohol and drug awareness," Johns said. "Most of their experience is the DARE program in fifth grade."
Student body president Jordan McGee said he doesn't think there's a particular reason why alcohol and drug violations went up in 2013.
"I think alcohol is a big part of university culture, across the nation," he said. "I certainly think that students drink, I definitely don't think they should do it on campus. I definitely think that they should wait until they're 21 and can handle alcohol."
He said creating an open dialogue initiated by students is the best way to better educate students.
Alcohol generally not allowed on campus
Alcohol is not allowed on campus, with some exceptions, including in the Monroe Apartments and — new this school year — Kentwood Hall.
Donald Clark oversees the compilation of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report as the director of safety and transportation. He said most alcohol violations are committed by underage students in the residence halls.
He said violations fluctuate from year to year. He could not pinpoint a reason why violations went up from 2012 to 2013.
"Some students seem like they are more prone to use alcohol and/or drugs, and sometimes we'll have a year where, gosh, it doesn't seem like we have very much in the way of drugs and alcohol," he said. "It seems like we have an upward trend and I think that's as much as anything, a reflection of the increase of enrollment."
Clark said all drug and alcohol violations are handled by the Springfield Police Department, which has eight officers stationed on campus.
Report categorizes offenses
Criminal offenses and drug and alcohol violations are put in four categories as mandated by the Clery Act, Clark said.
On-campus is any crime that occurs on Missouri State's core campus area, which is property that is owned or controlled by the university, Clark said. Residence halls are listed as a subcategory of on-campus.
Non-campus offenses are those that take place on property that is owned and operated by the university for an educational purpose, but not necessarily within the core campus. Clark referenced MSU's buildings downtown as an example.
Public property is any property that is not owned by the university but is on campus or adjacent to the university. This would include, for example, all of National Avenue, Clark said.
In August 2013, the News-Leader reported on a gunbattle witnessed by Springfield police just across National Avenue near campus, at Fat Tony's restaurant. When asked if the incident was reflected in the report, Clark said it did not fall into any of the report's categories because it happened across the street from the university.
He said any report made by Springfield police on or near campus is submitted to the university for consideration for inclusion in the annual report. Clark said reports of stalled cars, for instance, are not included, but any criminal offense reported by police is reflected.
Who reads the report?
Clark said he would guess most students, or their parents, do not read the report even though it is sent via email to the entire campus community.
"If I could give them a two- or three-page synopsis, I think they would read that. But nobody is going to read this book," he said.
Sophomore Chelsea Toews hadn't heard of the annual report but admitted she hasn't checked her email this week.
Toews said she feels safe at Missouri State but would be interested in learning more about campus crime.
"The criminal activity for sure is one that I'd like to know about, not so much the alcohol violations; we all know that happens," she said.
McGee said he wants to see the report put into a more student-friendly form, like an info-graphic that could be shared on social media.
"I think there could be a better way that can portray this information. That way they can get a better grasp at what's going on at the university," he said. "The personal connection can really go a long way.
"It's so difficult to change a culture that's so engrained in our society. As students see other students being passionate about it, then they'll want to learn more."
2013 offenses and violations on campus
Criminal offenses
• Rape: 4
• Forcible Fondling: 2
• Domestic Violence: 4
• Stalking: 2
• Robbery: 2
• Burglary: 4
• Motor vehicle theft: 4
Disciplinary actions referrals
• Illegal weapons possession: 2
• Drug law violations: 68
• Liquor law violations: 638
Arrests or tickets on campus
• Drug law violations: 48
• Liquor law violations: 22
Reports of sexual violence, harassment also up
Colleges are now collecting more statistics on sexual violence and harassment after the March 2013 re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
Domestic violence, stalking and dating violence are new categories reflected in a report compiled annually by Missouri State University under the federally-mandated Clery Act, which was updated with the re-authorization. Also new this year is the separation of the rape and forcible fondling categories.
Cases of sexual violence and harassment increased in 2013 compared to the previous year, although the numbers are small.
In 2012, Missouri State had three cases of rape and forcible fondling. The categories were separated in the 2013 report with four cases of rape and two cases of forcible fondling. There were four cases of domestic violence and two cases of stalking on campus. No incidents of dating violence were reported.
Several new pages of were also added to the report that defined terms related to sexual assault, detailed processes for reporting and investigating sexual misconduct and directed victims of sexual assault to supportive resources on campus.
Mike Abbey, an MSU public safety officer, said the campus is safe for students, but students should be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Abbey is a SHARP, Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention, instructor on campus.
He holds sessions once a month for women to learn how to keep themselves safe with self defense.
"A student one time told me she was grabbed at a fraternity party ... and with one of the release holds she had learned, she was able to get away from him," Abbey said.
Abbey said campus is not without its issues, but overall he believes students are safe.
"I would put this campus up against any campus as far as safety goes."
Student body president Jordan McGee said students generally feel safe on campus, but he said there is always room for improvement.
"Some parking lots at night can feel uncomfortable, and we're working on that," he said,
McGee said one sexual assault on campus is too many, so he is committed to help educate students on campus and lower the numbers of sexual violence. He started a student task force this semester to discuss how sexual violence can be combatted at MSU.
It's a personal issue, McGee said.
"I have a very close friend who told me this past summer that she had been assaulted," he said. "I'm making a conscious effort to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else on campus.
"To think that such a terrible thing occurs, it breaks my heart, but it also motivates me."
Disciplinary action
Sexual offenses
• Forcible sexual offense: The recommended minimum consequence shall be dismissal.
• Non-forcible sexual offense: The recommended minimum consequence shall be suspension for one year.
• Non-consensual sexual contact: The recommended minimum consequence shall be suspension for one semester.
• Sexual harassment: The recommended minimum consequence shall be Level 2 probation for one semester. In addition, other consequences could come, as needed, for example moving from one residence hall to another or a required change of academic schedule.
Use, possession, or distribution of alcohol or alcohol paraphernalia
• First violation: Participation in a four-hour alcohol education class and a fine of $45.
• Second violation: Referral to Student Conduct for an educational conference, other discretionary consequences, and a fine of $90. Other discretionary consequences will most likely include participation in the CREAD, Creating Responsible, Educated Academic Decision-makers program, wherein the student works with a Career Services Specialist to examine the student's academic/career choices in combination with their choices regarding alcohol usage. Parental notification, as allowed under federal student privacy regulations.
• Third violation: Parental notification, as allowed under FERPA regulations; residence hall suspension; assessment for chemical dependency; Level Two Probation for a period of one year; and a fine of $135.
• Fourth violation: Suspension for one semester. Prior to readmittance, the student will be required to meet with the Dean of Students, or designee, to discuss and demonstrate readiness to be at the university. The student may be asked to submit documentation of successful substance abuse treatment.
Use or possession of drug paraphernalia and/or marijuana
• First violation: Participation in the university's drug education class; a fine of $80; Level Three Probation for a period of two years; assessment for chemical dependency; and parental notification, as allowed under FERPA regulations.
• Second violation: Suspension from the university for one semester and parental notification, as allowed under FERPA regulations.
Use or possession of a controlled substance other than marijuana
• First violation: Participation in a four-hour drug education class; a fine of $80; residence hall suspension; assessment for chemical dependency; Level Three Probation for a period of two years; and parental notification, as allowed under FERPA regulations.
• Second violation: Suspension from the university for one year and parental notification, as allowed under FERPA regulations.
Possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell or distribute
• First violation: Dismissal from the university.