Staff Report
Arrests for alcohol violations on campus dropped by almost 75 percent last year, according to UNM Police's 2006 crime report.
The change resulted from campuswide initiatives to prevent alcohol abuse and more awareness about the University's no-tolerance alcohol policy, said Lt. Pat Davis, spokesman for UNMPD.
The department released the 2006 crime statistics Tuesday.
When it's appropriate, officers refer students for University discipline instead of charging them with a crime, Davis said.
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"We prefer to refer violations, especially alcohol violations, to the Dean of Students Office," he said. "We prefer to refer our students for administrative violations, so they don't pick up a criminal record."
Alcohol violation referrals increased by about 65 percent from 2005 to 2006. However, they decreased by about 35 percent from 2004 to 2005.
Davis said several factors
influence whether a student is charged or referred, including the severity of the violation and if the student has prior offenses.
The Dean of Students Office's referral program for alcohol violations includes educating students on alcohol and substance abuse, said Randy Boeglin, dean of students.
Boeglin said students aren't above the law, but sometimes it's better for the University to discipline them.
"I don't think that the University should stand between the students and the law," he said. "There's a way to handle a campus incident in way that puts it in an educational framework."
Boeglin said the crime statistics fluctuate and make it difficult to identify trends year to year.
UNMPD's crime report has information on 10 categories of crime, ranging from homicide to arson.
Burglary on campus almost doubled on campus from 2005 to 2006.
Davis said the jump is related to an increase in burglary in
Albuquerque.
Burglary rose by about 11 percent in Albuquerque in 2006, the Albuquerque Journal reported.
"Our numbers reflect that of the community," he said. "It reminds us how important it is to secure your valuables."
Student Sean Wynne said he doesn't feel threatened on campus, even though his vehicle was stolen in May 2006 from the parking lot by the Coronado Hall dormitories.
"I didn't feel less safe. I just felt that I was violated by car thieves," he said. "I feel safe at UNM for the most part."
Wynne said he filed a report with UNMPD, and his vehicle was returned.
He said the experience made him more cautious.
"I try to watch my belongings as closely as I can," he said. "Generally, I feel pretty safe about my stuff on campus."
Student Jessica Murillo said she feels uncomfortable when she has to walk around campus at night.
"My last class gets out at 8 p.m.," she said. "I notice myself really paying attention to my surroundings when I'm walking back to
my car."
