University officials and authorities are compiling the latest Penn State alcohol statistics, predicting an increase for a year in which the university was dubbed the No. 1 party school in the nation.
"It's essential for students to come together individually and in their organizations to discuss what's going on with alcohol," said Linda LaSalle, Penn State University Health Services (UHS) associate director of Education Services. "Ultimately, the individuals who have the most amount of power to create change to this issue are students."
The Campus and Community Partnership, made up of university and borough officials, releases an annual report on alcohol statistics after consulting with police, medical and administrative officials, LaSalle said. The statistics are likely to be released in the coming weeks
Last year's statistics showed the average blood alcohol content (BAC) level for students treated at Mount Nittany Medical Center was more than triple the .08 percent legal limit for driving in Pennsylvania -- .25 percent, according to the assessment.
And officials say increases are likely in this year's report.
"Unfortunately, for many of the students that I talk with, it's a badge of honor," LaSalle said. "Students themselves need to really critically think about whether that's the way they want their institution and their diploma to be thought of."
Capt. Dana Leonard said that in his 31 years of service with the State College Police Department, he's noticed a steady increase in the "community drinking problem."
He's seen the trashed streets lined with beer cans on weekend nights and vomit from alcohol overdoses that all stem from binge drinking. He noted that alcohol is a factor in 9 out of 10 sexual assaults and more than 90 percent of street assaults.
Factors that contribute to the drinking problem include unstructured free time, cultural influences, inexpensive alcohol prices and aggressive promotion toward students, LaSalle said, drawing from the U.S. Department of Education.
"It's fueling it, definitely fueling it," he said. "My hope would be that the leaders -- community, university and student leaders -- would get on board and try to make a difference."
University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) President Gavin Keirans said implementing a medical amnesty policy would combat what police are calling a "severe drinking problem."
Defending his proposal, Keirans (senior-business management) said the plan would only be used in extreme situations. Students would not face legal or university repercussions if they had been drinking and sought help for another individual in need, he said.
"This is a common-sense approach for looking out for students," Keirans said. "The current programs that we have are not successful. When we start to think about new ideas and new approaches -- maybe then we'll have change."
