During one of the most renowned party weekends of the year, two

19-year-old ISU students were treated for alcohol-related

emergencies at the Mary Greeley Medical Center.

However, alcohol-related arrests were down from last year in

Ames. The first medical emergency occurred Saturday morning in

Linden Hall, said Jerry Stewart, interim director of public safety. A

Department of Housing and Food Service staff member called

DPS to report a woman had passed out. When medical personnel

arrived at the scene, the woman was somewhat unresponsive,

Stewart said.

The second incident occurred Sunday morning outside Friley Hall,

Stewart said, where a DPS officer discovered an unresponsive

student face down on the pavement, he said.

Both students were treated and released, and neither student was

charged with public intoxication.

“We would encourage everyone to call DPS to seek assistance

when a friend or acquaintance has consumed too much alcohol,”

Stewart said. “Our primary concern is the well being of the

individual in these cases. The need for medical assistance takes

priority over the investigation of a possible law violation.”

In contrast to last year, DPS and the Ames Police Department

issued fewer alcohol-related arrests the week and weekend

before classes began. There were, however, two medical

assistance calls – last year, there were none.

“This years activities is normal, but an increase from the summer,”

he said.

Stewart said this year, there were fewer officers on the street than

last year, because vacancies in the department have not been

filled. For the weekend, he said, there were 23 cases, “a typical

non-football weekend would be fewer.”

The pre-school year parties have sparked a concern in the ISU

community – especially when it involves freshmen.

“We don’t want to lose any students – I’ve seen it before with the

freshmen,” said Thomas Hill, vice president for student affairs.

“[This year] has been going really well. They have been kept busy

with Destination Iowa State.”

Kate Burns, communications specialist for the Department of

Housing and Food Service said the week before classes started

was fairly normal this year.

“There has been a handful of [alcohol] violations,” Burns said.

“This is pretty typical for the first week – students test the

policies.”

Students living in the residence halls should be aware of the

policies in the dormitories. Burns said there are three alcohol

classifications – dry, damp and wet. In a dry room, all residents

are under 21 years old. In a damp room, at least one resident is at

least 21. In a wet room, both residents are at least 21.

Students and guests who decide to drink must do so in the privacy

of their own room and cannot drink in the halls or outside on the

premise.”

In an effort to give incoming students alternative, alcohol-free

activities, Destination Iowa State was created three years ago.

The university program also tries to ease any tensions new

students might have about coming to college and adjusting to

college life.

“We get students to the front door,” said Marc Harding, director of

admissions. “Destination Iowa State gets them through the front

door.”

Before Destination Iowa State began, some incoming freshmen

would sit around in their dorms, anxiously awaiting the first day of

class, he said.

“We want to put their minds at ease so come Monday morning,

they can get into their academics,” said Liz Kurt, director of New

Student Programs.

Ames Police Department

August 14-19, 2000

5 operating while intoxicated arrests

17 citations of underage possession

August 20-26, 2001

7 operating while intoxicated arrests

16 citations of underage possession

Department of Public Safety

Week before classes, 2000

18 liquor law violations

4 operating while intoxicated

2 public intoxication

0 alcohol related medical assistance calls

Week before classes, 2001

8 liquor law violations

3 operating while intoxicated

0 public intoxication

2 alcohol related medical assistance calls