Friday, October 22, 1999

THE POST

Athens, Ohio * An Independent Daily Newspaper * Ohio University
Jail space risks safety
THE POST

During Halloween celebrations this year, some people will find themselves all dressed up and arrested with literally no place to go.

During last year's Halloween weekend, 229 people were arrested Saturday night and taken to either the Athens Court House or shipped off to the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail in Nelsonville.

This year the same number, if not more, could be arrested, but the only place they will go is to the holding cell in the Athens Court house. This creates one small problem - the old Athens County Jail comfotably holds about 60 people.

Somehow these numbers just do not add up.

The equation: 229 minus 60 equals a lot of drunken misdemeanor offenders with nowhere to go.

City officials need to check their calendars and make some phone calls because according to our calculations, they have exactly one week to find a place for people arrested during the Halloween celebration.

County Commissioners told the regional jail not hold any misdemeanor offenders because of the jail's inappropriate accommodations.

OK, fine. Then the city needs a Plan B. But the city did not make it that far in the alphabet.

Athens Police Department Chief Richard Mayer said the police department will decide what to do with those arrested when the old Athens County Jail is filled.

This reactive mind-set is dangerous and irresponsible. Chances are the jail will be filled and it is the city's and county's responsibility to protect students and make sure the misdemeanor overflow has someplace to go.

Ohio University and the city have worked hard - through new policies and increased security - to keep Halloween safe for OU students. Poor planning is a total failure to continue this safety.

Survey says: OU still drinks
THE POST
Congratulations Ohio University students! Alcohol consumption on the OU campus has decreased!

But do not get too excited. It has decreased only by 0.2 drinks a week.

According to results from the 1998-99 Core Alcohol and Drug Survey, which measures students' attitudes and perceptions about alcohol and other drug usage across campus, OU students drink an average of 8.2 drinks per week. This is down from the 1996-97 study that showed the number of drink consumed at 8.4.

The national average is 5.2 drinks per week.

While it is crucial for OU to participate in this survey, the results are not surprising and will not change dramatically any time soon.

It is commendable that OU offers students social alternatives to drinking, but administrators are missing their target. They are not doing enough to move long-time Uptown regulars away from the bar.

There is not enough Cosmic Bowling, Open Stage or Game Nights at OU to change the minds of students who want to drink. But there are students who do not want to drink, and that is why alternative programs are important.

The survey would be more helpful if it asked different questions and personalized them to the school. In addition to asking how often students drink, OU must ask why they do or do not drink.

Answers to these questions will help administrators understand the reasons behind the high numbers. Then they can work to change that attitude.


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