10 transported for alcohol intoxication

The weekend of some eating club initiations usually sees an increase in the number of students hospitalized for excessive alcohol intake. The transport numbers for this year are similar to those of the corresponding weekend last year, when three students were taken to McCosh and eight to UMCP. The transport numbers from both 2011 and 2012 represent a significant increase from 2010, when five students required medical transport during initiations weekend, three to McCosh and two to UMCP.

No year has equaled 2009, which saw 16 total transports. Five were taken to McCosh and 11 to UMCP.

Seven of the students transported this weekend were under 21. Public Safety Deputy Director of Operations Charles Davall further reported that six of the ten transports were called in by students, two by University Health Services and two from observation by Public Safety officers.

Davall said in an email that Public Safety collaborates with eating club presidents and the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students to promote safety and responsibility during eating club activities, including this weekend’s events.

“The University is committed to continuing efforts to limit high-risk drinking and promote healthy behavior among students in a variety of ways, such as the ongoing work of the University’s Alcohol Coalition Committee,” he said. The ACC consists of a group of students, staff and faculty who work to address high-risk drinking and the responsible use of alcohol by undergraduates.

Despite the occurrence of some eating club initiations this weekend, however, Davall said that the data could not be linked exclusively to Bicker. According to Davall, the numbers represent “the total number of transports for the entire weekend, [and] we cannot conclude they are related to a specific campus activity.”