NEWS
Police continue use of detox
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Also by Heather Quitos:
- In-Depth: Spending money to make money (April 26, 2007)
- J-Cheezy, UW kick off challenge (April 20, 2007)
- In-Depth: Looking inside UW's closet (April 12, 2007)
- Recruiters face diversity issue (March 26, 2007)
- Tag-team academics (March 14, 2007)
Related Stories:
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- UWPD: No increased security for game (September 24, 2004)
- Detox incidents decrease since last year (December 5, 2001)
- Students cry unfair police treatment during IMF protest (October 9, 2002)
- Police arrest 4 sit-in protesters (November 19, 2004)
by Heather Quitos
Monday, October 24, 2005
Following a week and a half of homecoming activities boosting Badger spirit, University of Wisconsin police arrested more than 20 students at Camp Randall Stadium during Saturday's game against Purdue University.
Students arrested for public intoxication — including having difficulty maintaining balance, observed vomiting or creating a disturbance — are handcuffed in flex cuffs and taken to a small room in the stadium. There police file a report and notify the student of any possible charges held against them.
Before being released from the center and subsequently ejected from the game, students answer questions from officers about what caused their arrest and also talk with an employee from the Dean of Students office about the student's whereabouts before the game.
However, depending on the student's condition, police may escort him or her immediately to the detoxification center.
"Students that go to detox are in severe alcohol incapacitation," UWPD Lieutenant Karen Soley said. "They're vomiting, passing out, completely unaware of where they are or who they are, or they can't really walk on their own."
Though the number of police officers working during game day remains consistent, the number of students arrested varies with each game.
Saturday's competition marked the second lowest arrest total of the year, as police arrested 11 students at the season opener against Bowling Green, 23 at the game against Temple, 60 at the Michigan game and 33 at the previous home game against Indiana.
Soley said the majority of students arrested are well behaved when brought into the Camp Randall police center.
"Generally, the vast majority of people are cooperative," she said. "Drinking is one of those things that can tend to bring out behaviors that are going to be left uncooperative and with [uncooperative students,] we just have to deal with the behaviors they present."
Interim Assistant Dean of Students Tonya Schmidt agreed.
"For the most part, [students] realize if they've been underage drinking, they need to be held accountable," she said.
Many of the female students arrested at Saturday's game became visibly upset over the fines for underage drinking, although one student remarked she would "pay the money to have fun."
During the homecoming game, another student was escorted from the stadium to the detoxification center after vomiting twice in the garbage can near his seat.
"The stadium holds nearly 80,000 and every game is sold out," Soley said. "We want to oversee the safety of all the patrons that are here."
Former UW student Nick LaMantia, who was arrested and brought to detox seconds after entering the front gates for the Indiana game, said he disagrees with the tight security of university police around Camp Randall.
"I feel they should arrest you if you cause any problems and if you're being hostile toward other people," he said. "They shouldn't arrest you if you're just drunk but not causing any problems."
The way the police officers treated him was "cold," LaMantia said.
"I asked what I did, and they didn't really say anything," he added.
According to Schmidt, the detox room tends to get busy around the second quarter and throughout halftime, when students enter the stadium later and "have had more to drink."
Schmidt said the Dean of Students employees encourage UW students to cooperate with the police.
"We try to be an advocate on behalf of the police so they can do their job," she said.
LaMantia talked with Interim Dean of Students Lori Berquam while in the detox room and said she was "a lot more understanding" listening to his side of the story.
For multiple offenders, the costs for underage drinking increase with each incident.
Students must pay $248 for the first offense of underage drinking, $373 for the second offense within a year, $498 for a third offense within a year and $748 for a fourth offense within a year.
LaMantia's ticket was priced at a $500 face value, but the cost will drop if he attends certain classes encouraged by the university.
