Mackenzie Robinson is like many U students who attend late-night school events looking to relax and have fun on campus.
Student events are supposed to be free of alcohol, but Robinson, a sophomore nursing major, often notices students who arrive drunk, she said.
“I’ve seen a lot of people who just reek of alcohol when I’ve gone to those events,” Robinson said.
Student events such as Crimson Nights, the Grand Kerfuffle and Redfest occur during the year and draw anywhere between 3,000 and 6,000 students.
The U follows state law and does not allow alcohol on campus. The U’s student code prohibits any use, possession or handing out of alcoholic beverages.
Crimson Nights events, free monthly campus parties for students, are surrounded by security and will not allow students to carry bags into the building. Security guards can detain anyone whom they suspect of violating rules, said Michelle Brown, assistant director for programming and business affairs in the Union.
Campus police monitor the events, and students in charge are trained to spot drunken and disorderly behavior and how to handle the situation.
Members of the Union Programming Council, which organizes Crimson Nights, and the Associated Students of the University of Utah, which heads the Grand Kerfuffle and Redfest music festivals, say that few situations require campus police.
“Last year, I can think of maybe three instances during our six events that had harmful drunken behavior,” said Julie Tran, executive director of UPC. “Out of the 7,500 people who usually attend each event, even one instance is a small number.”
It’s rare that student drinking becomes a problem, said Brian Burton, programming advisor for ASUU.
At last year’s Grand Kerfuffle event in April, three people were given citations for underage drinking and supplying alcohol to minors, and one person was arrested for intoxication when he resisted arrest.
Police also deal with students who can’t handle their alcohol.
“A girl who had been drinking jumped up on stage,” Brown said. “Her behavior wasn’t appropriate, and campus police dealt with it.”
Students who attend the Grand Kerfuffle and Crimson Nights say they have seen many drunken people, and some admit to having drunk before events themselves.
Tiffany Duicus, a sophomore in exercise and physiology, has attended Crimson Nights before and noticed drunken students. There have been a few people falling all over themselves with slurred speech, she said.
The main goal of Crimson Nights is to give students a “late-night, alcohol-free event,” Brown said. “We offer free bowling, billiards, crafts, casino tables — something for everybody, so students can have a fun and safe evening,” she said.
U security has the right to refuse entrance to anyone they might consider is a danger to themselves or others.
Police officers get involved when a person has drawn attention to himself, versus the person who’s had a bit to drink and shows no sign of being drunk, said Lynn Rohland, head of special events and crime prevention with the department of public safety.
“Generally speaking, we have remarkably few problems at student activities,” said Scott Folsom, chief of campus police and the department of public safety.
“They are mostly clean, well-run events.” Robinson has been to one Crimson Nights event and said she noticed many guys who had been drinking, including some who attempted to get her phone number.
“A few guys were trying to say my name and get my phone number,” she said. “It took them about 20 times to write down the fake number I gave them.”
Police and EMTs are usually on hand for student events in case an emergency occurs. Event coordinators provide a safe environment for students even if they have drunk too much, Brown said.
Officials say students simply can’t be prevented from drinking alcohol before events.
Like a U football game, no one can control what students do, just prevent them from hurting anyone else, Burton said.
Students’ opinions about peers’ drunken behavior at campus events vary.
“I think it’s inappropriate and puts a damper on the party,” Robinson said.
“I think as long as you’re of age and you don’t do it on school grounds, drinking alcohol before events is OK,” said Andrew Pendleton, a junior in exercise and sports science.