Drunken frosh run wild on campus

By Kristina Lundblad
Gazette Staff

Hooliganism was a welcome rarity during Orientation week, with only a small tally of minor infractions including public displays of alcohol possession and minor noise complaints.

"Looking back, O-week was relatively smooth," said Constable Wendy McGowan, media spokesperson for the University Police Department.

"We were kept busy with many minor reports and incidents," she explained. "What stood out during the week was the number of alcohol related incidents."

She said a number of students were treated by the Student Emergency Response Team or taken to hospital for excessive consumption of alcohol. "We want students to get the message that someone can be injured for something like [excessive drinking]," she said, noting students should maintain some form of moderation.

McGowan said there were also a high number of students caught possessing open alcohol in a public place. Some charges were laid, she said, adding many students received a verbal warning if they were new to Western.

She said there were some motor vehicle accidents and a few noise complaints during O-week – one in particular was in relation to an event on concrete beach. In most cases, the noise complaints came from neighbouring communities, she explained.

Rounding out the petty crime for the weekend: A fire alarm was set off by burnt popcorn at 10:45 p.m. on Sept. 5 at Alumni House and one charge was laid in relation to a vehicle illegally passing a bike on the main campus bridge.

She explained students should remain wary of indecent exposure by a suspicious male – a periodically recurring event which took place throughout the summer. Most sightings happened in wooded areas and on poorly lit paths along the campus perimeter. A number of sightings took place on the path along the Thames River behind Elgin Hall. "I suggest to stay to the main areas and pathways and travel in pairs," she noted.

On Sept. 7, at 8:23 p.m., a female reported that a suspicious male approached her next to Huron College in the staff parking lot and followed her back to a building near by. She immediately called police, McGowan said, noting anyone who experiences anything similar should immediately follow the same procedure.

"We'd appreciate immediate contact if anything like this happens," she said. "The sooner someone calls – the quicker we can act promptly."

For non-emergency reports and inquiries, the Campus Police can be reached at 661-3300.

"We'd also like to let the students know that we have a lost and found [at the UPD]," she noted. "We keep tabs on property and label everything to help us locate the missing items and to confirm ownership."