Houston Buckley
JOUR 271
11/5/12
Research based
News Story
507 Words
Oxford,
Miss. – Attending College can present many new and exciting experiences for
those who choose to do so. However, college can also present dangerous
opportunities to all of its students. Throughout the years, such crimes as
robbery, sexual assault, alcohol abuse and even school shootings have plagued
campuses all across the country. Some campuses don’t experience this as often,
but some have it far worse than others.
It’s
the phone call a mother never wants to receive, bearing the caller I.D. of the
University Police Department or local hospital. Every year thousands of these
calls are made whether the subject is detainment or an accident. All across the
country these calls go through every night, but one place they go through
everyday is Oxford, Miss.
Oxford
is very notorious for its college town atmosphere and famous bars on the
Square, but it is also famous for its high alcohol related arrests. Last year
alone, the number of alcohol related arrests nearly tripled from the year
before. Whether it is a driving under the influence, a minor in possession or
even a public drunk, the campus of Ole Miss is slowly becoming a drunk tank.
Some
students don’t think that binge drinking and alcohol related incidents are such
a big deal. If you were to approach a random college student and asked them why
they drank, they would respond with “To get drunk,” or “To get drunk fast.” The
problem with binge drinking is that most of the students involved in a Greek
organization participate in heavy alcohol consumption on their own free will.
“I would say that being in a fraternity definitely presents a bigger
opportunity to binge drink.” Said junior Accounting major Justin Griffin. “I
don’t necessarily participate in it, but I know plenty of guys that do.”
Despite the social influence some people actually think this problem is getting
worse.
Latavia
Sykes, an emergency room admissions representative at the Baptist Memorial
Hospital here in Oxford believes that alcohol related accidents are becoming a
giant problem. When asked how many people come in on a single day for alcohol
related problems she replied, “At least ten come in every day.” Sykes also
said, “It’s definitely getting worse, more and more students come in with
alcohol related injuries.”
Sykes
was also asked about the different types of injuries that students come in
with. “These kids come in with bruises and scrapes from falling when
intoxicated,” she said, “they also come in overdosed on alcohol.” Studies show
that the alcohol related crime across the nation has been on a steady incline
since the early 2000’s, and has experienced a spike in the past three years. In
Oxford, the increase of alcohol related crimes has nearly tripled in the past
year alone, and has experienced a sharp increase in the last ten years.
Oxford
is a beautiful place with beautiful people, but how beautiful is a town that is
stained with wine and littered with beer cans?
Sources:
Latavia
Sykes: Emergency Room Admissions Rep. 662-232-8100
Justin
Griffin: Junior member of Greek organization. 601-826-2915
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