The number of liquor violations in the residential community at SF State increased last year, continuing an upward trend prevalent for the past five years, according to SF State's recently released 2003 Department of Public Safety campus security report.

The report shows that arrests and disciplinary referrals concerning alcohol violations on-campus also dramatically increased in 2003, thwarting the decrease of on-campus violations seen in 2002. In 2002 there were 121 liquor violations compared to 261 in 2003, an increase of 46 percent. These statistics include the residential communities of Mary Park and Mary Ward Halls and the Village at Centennial Square.

SF State surpassed Chico State, San Jose State and Sonoma State for drinking violations and referrals in residential communities. However, SF State has a mild amount of alcohol related violations compared to San Diego State University, which reported 491 residential hall liquor violations in 2003 for an undergraduate population only 7.5 percent greater than SF State.

Binge drinking and rowdy behavior is especially a problem for first-year college students said Penny Tsih, a psychology major who works for the Creating Empowerment Through Alcohol and Substance Abuse Education (CEASE) program.

"The kids are just coming from home and they have more freedom. No one is watching them and they just go wild. No one tells them no," said Tsih.

The incidences of alcohol and drug abuse have reached a critical level in residential housing this year, including two overdoses, said Tsih.

The residential halls are sponsoring an alcohol education awareness week from Oct. 17 to 24, and in late November, CEASE will put on an interactive question and answer forum to promote alcohol education. Program coordinators will show a film consisting of actual SF State students answering impromptu questions concerning alcohol safety and consumption statistics, such as the number of drinks it takes to be considered legally dunk and signs of alcohol poisoning.

Contrary to Tsih's statements, the 2003 campus safety report shows that drug violations decreased last year to 113 write-ups from 136 in 2002.

Some students do not see SF State, predominantly known as a commuter college, as a party school.

"I am surprised by the amount of alcohol incidences," said Kristin Bickel a 22-year-old graphic design major. "I just don't associate this school with a drinking culture."

Students cite needing to wind down and release steam as reasons for consuming alcohol. In a recent [X]Press survey of 100 students, 14 percent said they drink more than seven alcoholic beverages per week. Around 24 percent said they drink to let loose and six percent admitted to drinking for the sole purpose of getting drunk.

Consuming more then seven alcoholic beverages per week is considered risky drinking behavior, according to SF State's Electronic Check Up and Go (e-Chug). The online interactive web survey allows students to enter information about their drinking patterns and receive feed back about their alcohol use.

Not all SF State students are heavy drinkers. Out of the 100 students, 43 percent said they do not consume any alcoholic drinks on a typical week. Some students believe outside factors have contributed to the high number of alcohol violations.

“If you are drinking on campus it is usually in a large, concentrated amount of people,” said Meryl Hillerson, a 19-year-old art major. “So, if they (campus police) bust one, they bust ten.”

Impromptu questions concerning alcohol safety and consumption statistics, such as the number of drinks it takes to be considered legally dunk and signs of alcohol poisoning.

Contrary to Tsih’s statements, the 2003 campus safety report shows that drug violations decreased last year to 113 write-ups from 136 in 2002.

Some students do not see SF State, predominantly known as a commuter college, as a party school.

“I am surprised by the amount of alcohol incidences,” said Kristin Bickel a 22-year-old graphic design major. “I just don’t associate this school with a drinking culture.”

In a recent [X]Press survey of 100 students, 14 percent said they drink more than seven alcoholic beverages per week. Around 24 percent said they drink to let loose and six percent admitted to drinking for the sole purpose of getting drunk.

Consuming more then seven alcoholic beverages per week is considered risky drinking behavior, according to SF State’s Electronic Check Up and Go (e-Chug). The online interactive web survey allows students to enter information about their drinking patterns and receive feed back about their alcohol use.

Not all SF State students are heavy drinkers. Out of the 100 students, 43 percent said they do not consume any alcoholic drinks on a typical week.

Some students believe outside factors have contributed to the high number of alcohol violations.

“If you are drinking on campus it is usually in a large, concentrated amount of people,” said Meryl Hillerson, a 19-year-old art major. “So, if they (campus police) bust one, they bust ten.”