» OSU, UD at top for alcohol arrests on campus,
Data part of federally mandated crime reports.
Ohio State University, the largest college in Ohio and one of the largest in the country, recorded the most alcohol arrests and violations in the state last year.
Ohio State had 103 arrests and 1,931 disciplinary referrals issued for alcohol in 2016 compared to 119 arrests and 1,614 violations in 2015, according to the school’s report.
Among area universities, the University of Dayton came in at a distant second to OSU. UD reported 25 liquor law arrests in 2016 and 886 disciplinary referrals, according to UD’s crime report.
UD officials have said that Clery data doesn’t provide an accurate comparison of the amount of drinking that occurs on different campuses. Very few of UD’s students live off-campus, they’ve said, so the campus crime numbers tend to be higher.
“Our alcohol enforcement efforts are making a difference in holding students accountable for liquor law violations through our student disciplinary process. The university’s expectation is that our students will comply with the law and our community standards and code of conduct,” UD officials said in a prepared statement.
There were eight alcohol-related arrests at Miami in 2016 and 397 disciplinary actions taken, according to the school’s report. The number of violations at both Ohio State and UD increased from year to year but decreased slightly at Miami in 2016, according to reports.
Wright State University also reported an increase in alcohol arrests and violations in 2016. There were two liquor law arrests on campus and 157 violations referred for disciplinary action, according to the report. That’s up from just one arrest in 2015 and 83 disciplinary referrals the same year.
Wittenberg University reported a decline in alcohol violations in 2016, with just one arrest and 120 disciplinary referrals issued, according to the school’s report. Cedarville University reported no alcohol arrests and 14 disciplinary referrals.
Drinking at area colleges received renewed scrutiny this year after a Miami student died after a night of heavy drinking. Freshman Erica Buschick was found dead in her dorm room on Jan. 20, according to police reports.
The 18-year-old’s death and other alcohol related incidents reverberated across Ohio’s college campuses, prompting some schools to re-examine their policies.