Sophomores cited for the increase in party-related complaints this year
By Ame Phitwong
It's been one month since the beginning of the school year and Public Safety has already experienced 24 party complaints, up 10 from last year's total. The majority of the cases involves sophomores.
"I feel last year we didn't party that much," sophomore Sergio Islas said. "I definitely notice people going out a lot more."
Harold Burke-Sivers, director of Public Safety, said the trend for this year has been very similar to that of the 2005-06 school year.
"There have already been students in detox, arrests in the neighborhood (unrelated to UP events), and property destruction," he said. Burke-Sivers believes a big part of the problem is older students supplying younger attendants with alcohol.
A majority of the cases have been with sophomores in off-campus situations.
"It's their first experience with independence. They're young, they want to have fun and they do things without thinking," Burke-Sivers said.
Sophomore Ben Ormond said he's noticed the partying has been all ages, not just sophomores in particular. He believes the freshmen want to hit the partying scene hard and the initial numbers are due to sophomores that have moved off campus.
"I'm paying rent, so I might as well sleep at my own house. I stay in more and am enjoying the solitude," Ormond said. "The (sophomores) that I know have tamed down, matured slightly, and have learned their limitations and tend to focus on school more."
He believes the majority of the sophomores who party are the ones who live in the dorms and go to off-campus parties.
"Even if you don't party or drink, you still need to get off campus and do something social," Ormond said about the struggles living in the dorms.
Burke-Sivers said he has sent a student to detox personally. The student was checked by paramedics and medically cleared. When the student was transferred to detox, Burke-Sivers soon discovered the student had already been there earlier that week.
One sophomore was arrested for disorderly conduct by Portland Police when he vandalized property and was making noise in the neighborhood after leaving a party.
"We aren't making smart choices because we are getting caught, but the good side is people are going out and having a good time," Islas said.
Islas said he has not had any personal contact with Public Safety, but has encountered officers a couple times.
"They came to a party and told everyone who weren't 21 to get out, so they gave them a chance," he said.
The Hooper Detoxification Center is the place where people who are medically clear but intoxicated, are sent to sober up. The center provides outreach and subacute medical detoxification services.
Burke-Sivers personally visits students whose residences have been involved in the party complaints. With the underage students, he said he is aware that drinking goes on. He provides them with an off-campus brochure that states in its first bulletin that no one under 21 should drink alcohol.
Some students don't take his warnings seriously.
"Some students laugh at me, but I still tell them the rule, give it in writing. They're adults and I've done my duty," he said.
According to Burke-Sivers, Public Safety usually responds to a party because of a noise complaint by a neighbor. The noise ordinance in the city begins at 10 p.m.
The first time Public Safety arrives at a party, the officers give the owners a warning. If they have to come a second time that same night, they end the party. If students do not comply, Portland Police becomes involved.
"If neighbors call before 10 p.m. to complain, we tell them there's nothing we can do," Burke-Sivers said. He said many of the neighbors that call are parents who have young children that need to get to bed early.
If an underage student is caught drinking, he or she will be issued a citation by Public Safety. A report is written up and submitted to the judiciary process. But, if Portland Police gets involved, the student is sent through the city's judiciary system in addition to the University's.
Burke-Sivers said Public Safety always try to intervene in situations before Portland Police gets involved. Of the 24 complaints, at least five have involved the Portland Police with some students going to detox. No arrests were made.
With the changing weather, Burke-Sivers hopes the complaints will simmer down.
"The rain's going to come soon, hopefully it will bring people inside," he said.
Islas doesn't think the partying will slow down.
"There's Halloween, homecoming, there's always an excuse to go out," he said.
