--- title: "Combatting Underage Drinking" type: "pdf" year: "2009" canonical: "/projects/241" --- # Combating Underage Drinking: Through a Collaborative Community Response Program ![img-0.jpeg](https://popdatasets.blob.core.windows.net/popdatasetmdimgs/09-32/img-0.jpeg) # Table of Contents - [Combating Underage Drinking: Through a Collaborative Community Response Program](#combating-underage-drinking-through-a-collaborative-community-response-program) - [2009 Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem Oriented Policing submission](#2009-herman-goldstein-award-for-excellence-in-problem-oriented-policing-submission) - [Section 1: Summary of Application](#section-1-summary-of-application) - [Section 2: Description](#section-2-description) - [A. Scanning \& Analysis](#a-scanning-analysis) - [Section 2: Description](#section-2-description) - [B. Response](#b-response) - [Section 2: Description](#section-2-description) - [C. Assessment](#c-assessment) - [Section 3: Agency and Officer Information](#section-3-agency-and-officer-information) - [Project Contact Person:](#project-contact-person) - [Officer Eric Giordano](#officer-eric-giordano) - [Appendices](#appendices) - [PAGE](#page) - [**Appendices: CORE Data**](#appendices-core-data) - [**CORE Data: CCSU Student Binge Drinking by Gender**](#core-data-ccsu-student-binge-drinking-by-gender) - [**CORE Data: CCSU Student Binge Drinking by Class**](#core-data-ccsu-student-binge-drinking-by-class) - [**Devil's Den 10pm Demographic Information**](#devils-den-10pm-demographic-information) - [Devil's Den 10pm: What else would you be doing with your time?](#devils-den-10pm-what-else-would-you-be-doing-with-your-time) - [CCSU's Devil's Den at 10, An Alternative to "Thirsty Thursdays"](#ccsus-devils-den-at-10-an-alternative-to-thirsty-thursdays) - [THE HERALD](#the-herald) - [CCSU, city police plan DUI checkpoint](#ccsu-city-police-plan-dui-checkpoint) - [THE HERALD](#the-herald) - [DUI checkpoint to be held at CCSU](#dui-checkpoint-to-be-held-at-ccsu) - [THE HERALD](#the-herald) - [Cops bust CCSU party](#cops-bust-ccsu-party) - [THE HERALD](#the-herald) - [Cops crack down at CCSU party](#cops-crack-down-at-ccsu-party) - [THE HERALD](#the-herald) - [Task force works with city to keep Central safe](#task-force-works-with-city-to-keep-central-safe) # 2009 Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem Oriented Policing submission CCSU Police Department – New Britain Police Department Central Connecticut State University & New Britain, Connecticut # Table of Contents PAGE Section 1: Summary ..... $3-5$ Section 2: Description ..... $6-21$ A. Scanning \& Analysis ..... $6-11$ B. Response ..... $12-18$ C. Assessment ..... $19-21$ Section 3: Agency and Officer Information ..... 22 Appendices ..... 23 1. CORE Data ..... $24-25$ 2. Devil's Den 10pm Data ..... $26-27$ 3. Newspaper Article: "CCSU Devil's Den @ 10, Alternate to Thirsty Thursday" ..... 28 4. Newspaper Article: "CCSU, City Police plan DUI Checkpoint" ..... 29 5. Newspaper Article: "DUI Checkpoint to be held at CCSU" ..... 30 6. Newspaper Article: "Cops Bust CCSU Party" ..... 31 7. Newspaper Article: "Cops Crack Down at CCSU Party" ..... 32 8. Newspaper Article: "Task Force Works with City to keep Central Safe" ..... 33 # Section 1: Summary of Application Historically, the peaceful coexistence between a university and its neighbors has often been challenged by the exploits of students residing in off-campus housing. So it is in New Britain, Connecticut where police agencies (municipal and university police), City departments, neighborhood residents, law abiding students, and University officials have had increasing difficulty in recent years combating the multiple problems associated with off-campus underage drinking. Underage drinking has led to problem house parties, and drinking and driving in addition to significantly disrupting the local neighborhood surrounding the university. Pervasive underage drinking and associated behaviors have undermined confidence in the police, led to a decline in the quality of life in the neighborhood and has attributed to the perceived decline in the market value of homes. The intent of the project is to engage the multiple stakeholders in problem solving, to reduce the incidence of aberrant behavior, to promote health and safety by encouraging healthy habits on the part of students, and to restore order in the Belvidere neighborhood surrounding Central Connecticut State University. Acting independently of one another, previous efforts by police agencies and campus officials fell short of expectations and led to complaints regarding sensitivity to the issues, responsiveness and police ineffectiveness. There was clearly a need for an improved cohesive response that crossed over traditional lines of authority and responsibility. Improvement was in the form of: - Empowerment from both the Mayor of the City of New Britain and the President of Central Connecticut State University - Engaging all stakeholders by involving them in a community coalition (Task Force) to share an understanding of issues and develop solutions - Implementing a police "mutual aid agreement" to resolve jurisdictional issues that had impeded joint efforts - Disseminating educational resources of the University to inform students - Engaging CCSU students in constructive late night alternative activities programming - Training and updating police officers in applicable underage drinking laws and party interdiction tactics - Enforcement using joint police patrols to increase visibility - Allocating federal grant funding for police overtime - Enforcing student conduct regulations for off-campus misconduct that could pose a threat to the health and safety of others - Enforcing underage drinking laws that were fair, accurate and consistent Outcomes from these efforts, several of which were not anticipated, included: - Approximately 50\% decrease in campus judicial misconduct cases - 60\% reduction in on-campus vandalism - 10\% reduction in off-campus vandalism damage - 74\% reduction in hospitalizations related to alcohol intoxication - Positive Feedback from residents stating that there were significant improvements in the neighborhood - CORE Data Institute surveys indicate that: - In 2008 Binge drinking among CCSU college students decreased to 52\% in comparison to $58 \%$ in 2006. - Drinking while under the influence of alcohol among CCSU students had remained stagnant at $42 \%$ for approximately four years and in 2008 declined to $38 \%$. - In 2006, 57\% of off-campus students engaged in binge drinking, where in 2008, 50\% of off-campus students engaged in binge drinking. Word count 497 # Section 2: Description ## A. Scanning \& Analysis "Excuse me sir, if I give you money do you think you could buy me some alcohol?" Sound familiar? If you live in a neighborhood adjacent to a college campus it very well might. Although underage drinking at college is common, that behavior - in an otherwise quiet neighborhood - can be the proverbial "tip of the iceberg" in terms of related problems that diminish quality of life for residents. Such is the case in New Britain, Connecticut where the campus of Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) sits in the midst of a long established Belvidere residential neighborhood. This is also an area where off-campus student misconduct has undermined good will between homeowners, the students living among them, the City of New Britain, and CCSU. The City of New Britain, Connecticut is a small city and during the early part of the 20th century, was known as the "Hardware Capital of the World", as well as "Hardware City". Major manufacturers, such as The Stanley Works, Corbin Locks and North \& Judd, were headquartered in the City. As of the census of 2000, there were 71,538 people, 28,558 households, and 16,934 families residing in the City. In terms of crime, the City's crime rate is significantly higher than that at CCSU, its per capita rate for violent crime is .64 times the national average, while its per capita rate for property crime is .91 times the national average. Thus, the City of New Britain would appear to have its share of crimes that, on its face, are far more serious than underage drinking. CCSU, described as a regional, comprehensive public university, is Connecticut's oldest publicly supported institution of higher education. It is also the largest of the four state universities in the Connecticut State University system. With a campus population nearing 12,000, CCSU is clearly a large presence in New Britain. However, only about 2,100 undergraduates actually reside on campus in nine residence halls, with the remainder commuting from near and far. CCSU is also a "dry campus" and although the legal drinking age in Connecticut is twenty-one, most people know that does not stop people under the age of twenty-one from finding ways to purchase and consume alcohol, especially on and near a college campus. And, while underage drinking is itself an offense; like other "order maintenance" issues, it is easy for the "collection" of problems associated with underage drinking to be off the "radar screen." At the same time, the number of stakeholders (individual residents, two police departments, various City agencies, and various campus departments) also makes it easy for anyone to miss the long-term and cumulative effects associated with such unattended problems that affect quality of life. In years gone by, levels of complaints had a yearly ebb and flow that were tolerated to one degree or another by the community. To be sure, problems had arisen; the police et al responded, and complaints receded - at least for a time. There had been a Town and Gown Committee that evaporated, over the course of time, with changes in administrations and a lessening of problems. In the years preceding 2006, however, people were increasingly complaining about a variety of these low level problems that, standing alone, were below the radar screen. Almost unnoticed in relation to the neighborhood quality of life issues, was the fact that students were ever more making unhealthy choices without consideration of the consequences associated with the large amounts of alcohol consumption. Indeed, most, if not all, of the medical calls the CCSU Police Department were received from 9:00pm to 2:00am on any given night, especially Thursday through Saturday, and attributed to excessive alcohol consumption, mostly consumed off campus. The response of neighborhood residents, understandably, was to complain, on an incident by incident basis, to the New Britain Police and/or the CCSU Police. And, while the police responded, residents were often dissatisfied with either the timeliness of the response, the manner of the action they took, or the fact that the police action did not appear to solve the underlying problem. More and more, residents began to see the problem as a "University problem." For example, when they did not get the response they wanted from the New Britain Police, or because they knew CCSU students were involved, they complained to the CCSU Police. This too led to frustration because of State law that restricts all police agencies to their primary jurisdictions when dealing with minor offenses. This meant that although underage drinking may occur within sight of the CCSU Police, if the offenders were off-campus, the CCSU Police could do little. Residents also had high expectations that the University would deal harshly with students who violated the law. However, the University had been conservative in addressing off-campus misconduct through its Office of Student Conduct. In sum, the residents of the Belvidere neighborhood detected an obvious increase in the number of underage students consuming alcohol in their neighborhood. They perceived things were getting progressively worse, and felt that no one was doing anything about it; not the police, not the City nor the University. Community complaints "hit headline news" and came to a head in 2006. As a result, Mayor Timothy Stewart invited CCSU's President Jack Miller and members of CCSU's administration to a community forum in 2006 where Belvidere homeowners took the microphone, one by one, voicing their complaints for a staggering 3 hours. Community/neighbor complaints included the following: - Loud parties late at night - Emergency hospital admissions for alcohol abuse - Fighting - Excessive traffic and speeding - Drinking and driving - Keg parties - Public urination - Visible intoxication of underage students - Blight Conditions - Occupancy Issues (overcrowded apartments) - Broken glass and windows - Students intimidating and disrespecting neighbors - Property vandalism (public vomit, parking on lawns, littering) - Homeowner's driveway's blocked by party-goers' cars parked illegally Residents voiced their total frustration with students who rented apartments in the neighborhood and were inconsiderate toward long time homeowners in the area who will remain residents of Belvidere long after students have moved on with their lives. The most common complaint among residents was their view that the problem behaviors cited above reflect a total disregard and consideration for other people or for the condition of the neighborhood itself. While residents were obviously unhappy with some elements of the police response, they also lashed out at the University for several reasons, including: - The City had to deal with "real crime" and had little time left to deal with college drinking - The miscreants were University students - The University has a police department that should play a larger role in curbing this misconduct - The University should take responsibility for the behavior of its students and discipline them for misconduct - The University should provide housing for students so they will not need to rent homes in the area Residents acknowledged that, while some problems had always existed (properties in the area had been rented to students for many years), recent years have seen a noticeable increase in problems and frustration. Notwithstanding the points made above, residents also saw a contributing factor in the University's inability to keep pace with demand for on-campus housing; a fact that when combined with housing market conditions, is seen as responsible for an increase in the acquisition and subsequent conversion of single family homes to rental property for students. # Section 2: Description ## B. Response In response, President Jack Miller and Mayor Tim Stewart provided direction to their police departments and other stakeholders. The following actions took place immediately: New Britain Police Chief William Gagliardi and CCSU Police Chief Jason Powell agreed to use the "Regional Mutual Aid Agreement" as a vehicle for the CCSU Police to provide ongoing patrol and response in the Belvidere neighborhood to support the New Britain Police. CCSU reconstituted the dormant Town and Gown Task Force which is a "community coalition" of Belvidere residents, landlords, University officials, City officials, students and neighbors with the police, et al working together to share information and problem solving activities. The Town and Gown Task Force held two open forums at a nearby elementary school for residents of New Britain to come and voice their thoughts and opinions to Officials from both the City of New Britain and CCSU. Task Force meetings include neighbors who wish to voice their issues to the community coalition. Members of the Town and Gown Task Force represent an impressive array of community coalition members including: Timothy Stewart (Mayor, City of New Britain), Peter Gostin (Councilman, City of New Britain), William Gagliardi (Chief of Police, New Britain Police Department), Jason Powell (Chief of Police, CCSU Police Department), Dr. Laura Tordenti (CCSU Interim Vice President of Student Affairs), Mark McLaughlin (CCSU Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications), Christopher Dukes (CCSU Director of Student Conduct), Jean Alicandro (CCSU Director of Residence Life), Anne Alling (CCSU Chief Human Resources Director/Belvidere Neighbor), Meagen Wentz (CCSU Wellness Programs Administrator), Kenneth Cook Jr. (Owner of Elmer's Restaurant \& Bar), Carmine Civale, Rachel Cirinna, Timothy Walczak, Joel Weisel (CCSU Natural Helpers, Peer Educators), Craig DiAngelo, Barbara Grenzinski, Marilyn Kraczkowsky (Belvidere Neighbors), Gloria Hampl (Belvidere Neighbor/Retired CCSU Faculty), Joanne Heckman, Fatima Lorusso (Property Managers, Konover Residential), Jason Jones, Aimee Pozorski, John Tully, Nancy Tully (CCSU Faculty/Belvidere Neighbors), Jon Zipadeli (Belvidere Neighbor/Landlord). Coordinating the Task Force is CCSU's Director and Associate Director of the Counseling and Wellness Center, Timothy Corbitt and Victoria Ginter. Staff support to the Task Force is provided by Stephanie Moran, University Assistant in the Office of Alcohol and Drug Education, and Jennifer Glaude, President of the Natural Helper Peer Educators. Seventeen Town and Gown Task Force meetings have taken place at CCSU during the past three years, and have always had a positive representation from New Britain residents, City and University officials. There have been two open forum meetings inviting the Belvidere community. Based upon ideas and feedback developed at the Task Force meetings, the following programs were implemented: - To support healthy lifestyle choices, CCSU has set up and alcohol-free alternative activities program. Since Thursday nights is the big party night for most students, the University hosts interactive programs on campus for students, such as "open mike" contests, game shows, Talent Shows, cultural events etc. The late night alcohol-free program called Devil's Den 10pm, is an effort to keep students from leaving campus. ${ }^{1}$ Devil's Den 10pm is an initiative that developed from Town and Gown meetings as well as PAC (President's Advisory Council on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs) meetings. Devil's Den 10pm is especially well attended by first year students and those who are under 21ys. The success of Devil's Den 10pm program is seen through evaluations that are completed by students. Approximately 4,800 students attended in the 2008-2009 academic year. - Residence Life together with the Counseling and Wellness Center sponsored other programs on campus that has dealt with the dangers of drinking and other behaviors associated with the consumption of alcohol. - The Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Education, which is part of the Counseling and Wellness Center, sponsors a yearly "Alcohol Awareness Week," in which members of the New Britain Police and Fire Departments, as well as the State Police attend and educate students on the dangers of drinking and driving. There are different stations set up on campus where students can see what it feels like to be in a low speed crash, with the Convincer (a crash simulator), what it is like to drive drunk, by putting on the "Drunk Goggles," which simulates what it looks like when someone is intoxicated, and racing a tricycle through an obstacle course, and watching [^0] [^0]: ${ }^{1}$ http://stdctr.ccsu.edu/DD10PM/ Combating Underage Drinking the New Britain Fire Department use the Jaws of Life to extract a dummy from a car that was involved in a drunk driving accident. The Counseling and Wellness Center conducts basic alcohol screenings and make referrals when necessary. Various clubs and organizations sponsored tables with alcohol and drug information. Food and beverages are provided to draw a crowd to the area as well as t-shirt giveaways with an alcohol message on them. - The Office of Student Conduct has partnered with Devil's Den 10pm by incorporating Devils' Den 10pm as a community service option for sanctions. In just one semester, 17 students who were judicially referred fulfilled their sanctions through community service at Devil's Den 10pm. Some of these students came back to attend events later in the semester. Other students have been referred to the BASICS program (Brief Alcohol Screening Intervention for College Students) after receiving their second alcohol violation. BASICS is conducted by the Counseling and Wellness Center and The Office of Alcohol and Drug Education. ${ }^{2}$ - CCSU used its student Natural Helpers program to provide fellow students with alcohol and drug prevention information through brochures and programs campus-wide, within the residence halls, and in freshmen classes. Natural Helpers are peer educators who are trained in substance abuse prevention and other health and wellness topics. ${ }^{3}$ - Landlords in the area have formed an association to work with CCSU, and currently have sixteen members who hire officers to patrol and monitor their [^0] [^0]: ${ }^{2}$ http://web.ccsu.edu/counseling/ ${ }^{3}$ http://web.ccsu.edu/counseling/nathelp.htm properties on a weekly basis. The Town and Gown Task Force Co-Chair is also a well-known Landlord in town. - The Campus View Apartment building, which is located around the corner from CCSU and houses many CCSU students, has sponsored pizza parties in the past at local student hangouts and bars, where police officers were guest speakers on how to have legal house parties, how to be good neighbors, and the penalties and enforcement actions taken against those who do not follow these guidelines. - Forty Supervisors and Officers from both CCSU and New Britain have trained in CT State Statutes regarding house parties, beer keg registrations, kegs, and different related procedures for entry into homes where it is believed that underage drinking is occurring. - The New Britain Police Department has also implemented the use of confidential informants (CIs) to ensure that the surrounding bars and liquor stores are not allowing minors on the premise. - In November 2008, the New Britain Police Department and Liquor Control Agents checked thirteen bars, cafes, and restaurants, and six were discovered to sell to the underage CIs, and face possible sanctions and fines. They also checked twenty-nine liquor stores for improper sales, with thirteen being in violation by selling alcohol to the underage CIs. - Using a State of Connecticut Department of Transportation grant aimed at combating driving under the influence, the CCSU Police Department and the New Britain Police Department also team up and have set up DUI checkpoints on the streets surrounding the CCSU campus. This preventative measure helps to ensure that not only are we doing whatever we can to prevent people from driving drunk, but to also instill in them the concept of omnipresence. - The CCSU Police periodically patrolled the Belvidere neighborhood in marked police cruisers to increase police visibility. - CCSU obtained grant funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to help with some of the costs of program implementation, including police overtime. - The New Britain Police Department dedicated groups of officers to focus on off-campus parties during the evenings and hours when most parties take place. - The police response to parties and underage drinking moved from a model that stressed warnings, to one where enforcement action became the norm. Instead of receiving warnings for having parties and allowing an excessive number of people in a small area, infraction notices are now given and the resulting fines reinforce the notion that engaging in disruptive and illegal behavior is not worth the consequences they face, and is a deterrent to this repetitive behavior. This past year alone there have already been one hundred and thirty-five arrests made for underage drinking, as well as other alcohol and drug related charges. - A media campaign addressing underage drinking and house party prevention was established utilizing part of the Strategic Prevention Framework grant through the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. This campaign designed by CCSU Graphic Design students included two prevention posters, and a clever "House Parties for Smarties" brochure explaining safe ways to host a house party and describing underage drinking laws. Also bumper stickers with a prevention message on drinking and driving were created to give to area pizza places who agreed to stick them on their pizza boxes as a message to students. The media campaign materials above will be distributed at Student Orientation in draw-string bags with an underage drinking prevention message. - The University implemented an internal taskforce called "Presidential Advisory Council on alcohol tobacco and other drugs. ${ }^{4}$ Taskforce work includes updating the Drug Free Schools Act Biennial Report. - Information will be given out to parents and students at Freshmen Orientation at the beginning of the Fall Semester by Tim Corbitt from the Counseling and Wellness Center. Tim and his staff will address underage drinking through presentations about high risk versus low risk drinking, house party culture at CCSU and the current laws and law enforcement on and off campus. Included in this information will be Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell's current media campaign to combat underage drinking involving parents. Through this campaign, a new website with resources including current laws, brain development, and local resource agencies has been launched to provide accurate information for parents. ${ }^{5}$ [^0] [^0]: ${ }^{4}$ www.ccsu.edu/pac ${ }^{5}$ www.SetTheRulesCT.org # Section 2: Description ## C. Assessment The effectiveness of the efforts by all stakeholders have been evaluated by continuing to listen to neighborhood residents, and by looking at the statistics from both the University and the City of New Britain on the number and types of incidents involving CCSU students, alcohol, or any other illegal substance. The results include: - Self reporting by neighbors in the Belvidere neighborhood indicates a high level of satisfaction with the overall effort. Since this was the criteria used to assess dissatisfaction, it is just as valid as a measure of accomplishment. Interestingly, attendance at Task Force meetings has diminished as the situation improved. - An unanticipated result was found in the number of student misconduct cases. Despite the addition of new cases resulting from off-campus misconduct, Christopher Dukes, who is the Director of Student Conduct at CCSU, reported his overall caseload has decreased by approximately 50\% from previous years. This means that not only are fewer students participating in illegal and destructive behavior on and off campus, but also that illegal alcohol consumption is related to a wide range of student misconduct. - A similar surprise was found in the fact that the behavior most commonly associated with drinking on campus - vandalism/property damage - has decreased by about $60 \%$ over the last five years. - Of particular note is the fact that hospitalization of students for alcohol intoxication has gone down by 74\% from October 2007 to October 2008. - In addition, vandalism complaints have decreased by $10 \%$ in the area near the campus, from totaling approximately one thousand dollars to only one hundred dollars. - The CORE Data Institute is a national tool used to compare levels of individual college drug and alcohol use to a national average. This survey is administered to a random sample of students by university personnel and then submitted for analysis every two years. CORE data has been researched by the university since 2004 and has survey yielded results in 2006 and 2008. Most notably, since the above community interventions were implemented: - Binge drinking among CCSU college students decreased to 52\% in comparison to $58 \%$ in 2006. - Drinking while under the influence of alcohol among CCSU students has remained stagnant at $42 \%$ for approximately four years and in 2008 drinking and driving dropped to $38 \%$. - CORE data also showed positive results in reducing off campus drinking. In 2006, 57\% of off-campus students engaged in binge drinking, where in 2008, 50\% of off-campus students engaged in binge drinking. The efforts taken by CCSU and the City of New Britain were very successful in curbing underage drinking and the quality of life offenses linked to this activity. Although it is nearly impossible to completely stop underage drinking, the preventative actions taken have clearly had an effective and positive impact on the students and the community. The multifaceted response required a high degree of commitment and coordination. It required funding from several sources, and uses prevention strategies such as: mobilizing successful community coalitions, increasing enforcement of underage drinking laws, increasing house party patrols, joint police patrols, conducting DUI checkpoints, providing education on high risk versus low risk drinking, consistent latenight alternative activities, media campaigns reducing underage drinking and engaging the community to "work together" to help prevent underage drinking. Viewing underage drinking as a "community problem" has led to an overall enhanced sense of responsibility in the Belvidere neighborhood. Such prevention strategies have worked to reduce the number of students involved in misconduct, and have lowered their overall "risk profile" helping to ensure academic success while promoting health and safety on campus and in the surrounding community. These strategies have also helped restore confidence in government services. Cumulative Word Count: 4,013 # Section 3: Agency and Officer Information ## Project Contact Person: ## Officer Eric Giordano C/O Mrs. Susan Malley CCSU Police Department 1615 Stanley Street New Britain, CT 06050 Phone: 860-832-2377 Fax: 860-832-2379 E-mail: Giordano_erm@mail.ccsu.edu # Appendices ## PAGE Appendices ..... 23 9. CORE Data ..... $24-25$ 10. Devil's Den 10pm Data ..... $26-27$ 11. Newspaper Article: "CCSU Devil's Den @ 10, Alternate to Thirsty Thursday" ..... 28 12. Newspaper Article: "CCSU, City Police plan DUI Checkpoint" ..... 29 13. Newspaper Article: "DUI Checkpoint to be held at CCSU" ..... 30 14. Newspaper Article: "Cops Bust CCSU Party" ..... 31 15. Newspaper Article: "Cops Crack Down at CCSU Party" ..... 32 16. Newspaper Article: "Task Force Works with City to keep Central Safe" ..... 33 # **Appendices: CORE Data** ## **CORE Data: CCSU Student Binge Drinking by Gender** ![img-1.jpeg](https://popdatasets.blob.core.windows.net/popdatasetmdimgs/09-32/img-1.jpeg) ## **CORE Data: CCSU Student Binge Drinking by Class** ![img-2.jpeg](https://popdatasets.blob.core.windows.net/popdatasetmdimgs/09-32/img-2.jpeg) | 2004 CORE | 2006 CORE | 2008 CORE | | --- | --- | --- | | 2004 CORE | 2006 CORE | 2008 CORE | ![img-3.jpeg](https://popdatasets.blob.core.windows.net/popdatasetmdimgs/09-32/img-3.jpeg) CORE Date: CCSU Student Off-Campus Binge Drinking ![img-4.jpeg](https://popdatasets.blob.core.windows.net/popdatasetmdimgs/09-32/img-4.jpeg) CORE Data: CCSU Students Effects on Performance: Driving a car while under the influence of alcohol ![img-5.jpeg](https://popdatasets.blob.core.windows.net/popdatasetmdimgs/09-32/img-5.jpeg) # **Devil's Den 10pm Demographic Information** ![img-6.jpeg](https://popdatasets.blob.core.windows.net/popdatasetmdimgs/09-32/img-6.jpeg) **September 2007** ![img-7.jpeg](https://popdatasets.blob.core.windows.net/popdatasetmdimgs/09-32/img-7.jpeg) **September 2008** *Combating Underage Drinking* *Page 26 of 33* # Devil's Den 10pm: What else would you be doing with your time? ![img-8.jpeg](https://popdatasets.blob.core.windows.net/popdatasetmdimgs/09-32/img-8.jpeg) November 2007 ![img-9.jpeg](https://popdatasets.blob.core.windows.net/popdatasetmdimgs/09-32/img-9.jpeg) November 2008 # CCSU's Devil's Den at 10, An Alternative to "Thirsty Thursdays" BACK TO CCSU SCENE Victoria Ginter, Associate Director of Counseling \& Wellness Thursday nights at many colleges typically involves increased social activity for students. Many students are attracted to "Thirsty Thursday," a phrase given to activities associated with drinking. At CCSU, we offer a late night alternative activity for our students, called Devil's Den @ 10PM. Students can socialize, sing, play music, laugh, and have fun, without drinking alcohol. Events have included bands, cultural dances, singing student groups, game shows, and Karaoke, among other activities. Devil's Den @ 10PM occurs every Thursday from 10 PM - 1 AM in the Student Center and is coordinated by a dedicated team of professional staff members and students. Student clubs and organizations collaborate with the DD@10pm team to make it happen. The Student Center has generously extended its normal hours of operation to accommodate this program. This program also offers volunteer opportunities for students and staff who want to get more involved on campus and gain valuable work experience in higher education. A peer educator group called Natural Helpers, volunteer their time at DD@10pm. The Natural Helpers are sponsored by a grant from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, with a focus is of preventing high risk drinking. Devil's Den @ 10 PM began three years ago and its continuation was inspired by a "Call for Action" from the Belvidere neighborhood, the community surrounding CCSU. At a community meeting at Holmes School over two years ago, frustrated neighbors asked CCSU officials to put a stop to the student population hosting underage house parties that disrupt the Belvidere neighborhood. The problem stems from an underage binge-drinking culture that affects the health and wellbeing of not only those that are drinking but others innocent victims affected by their drinking. CCSU has a university goal of improving the safety, health, and security on campus and reducing student legal offenses and misconduct cases. Over the past two years Devil's Den attracted over 4,800 students to participate in a healthier alternative program. The majority of students attending DD@10pm are under 21 years old, thus helping to reduce underage binge-drinking off campus. The program is growing in popularity and is particularly successful with college freshmen and sophomores. While the CCSU and New Britain Police Departments have increased their response to problem parties elsewhere, the culture of Thursday nights at CCSU is beginning to change. Timothy Corbitt, Director of Counseling and Wellness and Chair of Town and Gown Task Force comments, "Devil's Den at 10pm, in combination with increased law enforcement, both work towards decreasing alcohol-related incidents on campus and in the surrounding community." Dr. Laura Tordenti, Interim VP of Student Affairs at CCSU, has also visited DD10pm and stated: "We are delighted with the growing popularity of Devil's Den and the opportunities it offers to our individual students as well as clubs and organizations." The DD10pm program has captured the spirit of students at CCSU and undeniably makes a statement that CCSU is invested in making a positive difference on campus and in the New Britain community. # THE HERALD New Britain, CT and surrounding areas ## CCSU, city police plan DUI checkpoint Friday, April 24, 2009 10:33 PM EDT NEW BRITAIN - In a continuing effort to deter motorists from driving while under the influence of alcohol and or drugs, the Central Connecticut State University and New Britain Police Departments will be conducting a DUI checkpoint Thursday. The checkpoint will be on various streets adjacent to the CCSU Campus from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Each year thousands of lives are lost, many more are injured as a result of alcohol related accident," noted CCSU Police Chief Jason Powell. "The CCSU and New Britain Police Departments hope that their efforts will provide a safer community for our students, faculty, staff and city residents." In the coming months the CCSU police will conduct several DUI awareness programs in the university's residence halls. # THE HERALD New Britain, CT and surrounding areas ## DUI checkpoint to be held at CCSU Tuesday, April 21, 2009 10:42 PM EDT NEW BRITAIN - Any commuters who travel near Central Connecticut State University's campus might want to give themselves some extra time April 30. The city and CCSU police departments will be holding an all-day DUI checkpoint near the campus, between 7:30 a.m. April 30 and 12:30 a.m. May 1. Sgt. Chris Cervoni of the CCSU police department said he could not be more specific about where the checkpoint would actually be. "We could have it in one location and then move it to another location," he said. Possible spots for the checkpoint include Stanley Street, Ella Grasso Boulevard, and Paul Manafort Drive. # THE HERALD New Britain, CT and surrounding areas ## Cops bust CCSU party Friday, February 20, 2009 10:10 PM EST NEW BRITAIN — Police issued 30 violation tickets for underage drinking Thursday while assigned to a special detail targeting noise and drinking in the area around Central Connecticut State University. Officers responded to a report of a large party in a first-floor apartment at 1317 East St. to find dozens of kids dropping their cups, bottles and cans when they realized they had been spotted, police said. Many ran to a back bedroom and two male party attendees tried to flee by climbing out a window. Police said one of the partiers was an intoxicated 15-year-old girl. Most of the people issued violations were 19- or 20-year-old CCSU students. A few others were under the age of 18. Police have busted similar parties in the same building in the past year. The initiative is part of a collaborative effort with the university and the neighborhood to cut down on alcohol-related crimes in the area. Lisa Backus # THE HERALD New Britain, CT and surrounding areas ## Cops crack down at CCSU party Saturday, October 4, 2008 3:00 AM EDT By LISA BACKUS NEW BRITAIN - More than three dozen underage drinkers including some under 18 years old were issued town ordinance violation tickets early Friday after police broke up a large party near the campus of Central Connecticut State University. The party was staged at 1524 Stanley St. by three CCSU students living at the property, according to a press release issued by police. Most of the party guests were also students of the university. Officers assigned to a special Thursday-night party detail caught wind of the festivities and could hear loud music coming from the single-family home when they arrived, police said. The release also said the officers could see several people who appeared to be under 21 drinking bottles or cans of beer while standing outside. The residents agreed to a search of the property, police said, and found a "beer pong" table used to play a popular drinking game, beer cans and other alcohol containers. Out of the 48 guests at the party, officers issued underage-drinking violation tickets to 39, including some who were 17 or 16 years old. Traditionally, Thursday nights are big party nights for college students and in the past several months officers have been assigned to a special party detail to deal with underage drinking and loud parties held near the university campus. During one large party last summer guest pelted police with beer bottles and ripped their uniforms when officers arrived to deal with the crowd. The bash was held just off campus with a large crowd drinking and shouting on the front lawn. # THE HERALD New Britain, CT and surrounding areas ## Task force works with city to keep Central safe Monday, September 3, 2007 3:00 AM EDTBy: Timothy Corbitt Some of the areas that are currently being addressed by the task force include: the prevention of underage drinking, noise and parking concerns generated by off-campus house parties, enhancing the overall quality of life for neighbors and students, creating educational opportunities for students that focus on civic engagement and civic responsibility, fostering positive relations between students and neighbors, and enhancing security and a sense of pride in the neighborhood. I am very optimistic and enthusiastic about the direction in which the task force is heading. The Town and Gown Task Force has convened five meetings to date. Some of our accomplishments include: an ongoing dialogue through regular monthly task force meetings, a proposed city ordinance that will establish a landlord (dwelling) registration and "approved housing list" for students considering off-campus house/apartment rentals, enhancing communication between the university and off-campus students, and providing information about state and city laws and ordinances to CCSU students. As part of our student-focused information campaign, we have developed a pamphlet that includes information on the new state underage drinking law that went into effect Oct. 1, 2006. The pamphlet also gives prevention and safety tips, as well as other helpful resources. It is also important to note some of the university's earlier initiatives that have made a positive impact, including: the creation of additional alcohol-free social activities such as the popular "Devil's Den @ 10 program," developing a neighborhood hotline (860) 832-2444, increasing police presence on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and establishing a mutual aid agreement between CCSU and the New Britain Police Department. We must acknowledge the successful collaboration between our police forces, in helping to ensure that CCSU, and the surrounding community, remains safe and peaceful. The Town and Gown Task Force is presently considering a variety of joint city/university initiatives, programs and public forums, in order to advance and promote the sense of cooperation and teamwork that is evident within the task force. We would like to begin including more residents and students in our conversation, and if you're interested you can e-mail us at neighbors@ccsu.edu. I look forward to the many wonderful and exciting possibilities that lie ahead for this upcoming year.