For campuses throughout the nation, April is both Sexual Assault Awareness and Alcohol Awareness Month. I provide this message to encourage your consideration or reconsideration of your personal choices involving the use of alcohol and/or drugs. As a concern for your safety, I am also sharing this information about the risks of alcohol and drug use, especially as it relates to sexual violence.
Throughout the year UCSC Police, faculty, students, and staff partner in creative ways to prevent violence and substance abuse — so that UCSC students can feel safer and better able to enjoy and complete their university careers. To do so requires fair and firm enforcement and education that enables individuals to make safer, smarter choices.
The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention advises that alcohol is a "situational contributor to sexual violence" and, along with other drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, Rohypnol, heroin, hallucinogens, etc. may be "used to facilitate rape." Click on the Sexual Violence and Alcohol and Other Drug Use on Campus article.
During April, the UCSC Police Department along with other Santa Cruz agencies will be participating in enforcement efforts directed at violators of alcohol and other drug policies and statutes on and near campus, including drivers under the influence.
Safety Reminders:
• Friends are safer when they stay together, especially in settings where alcohol and other drugs (AOD) are present. Be vigilant, especially in crowds. Alcohol and other drug use can increase the risk for sexual assault.
• Resist abuse – Alcohol and drug use can impair your health, personal development and the ability to achieve your goals.
• It is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Driving under the influence of marijuana increases the risk of accidents and fatal collisions, according to a recent meta-study (British Medical Journal, published February 9, 2012).
• It is a violation of UCSC policy and CA State law to possess, use, dispense or sell controlled substances on university properties.
• Respect the rights of others.
• An increasing number of students enter UCSC as non-drinkers (national trend) and more than 60% of UC Undergraduates do not use marijuana (2010-11 CA Safer Universities Study, quarterly prevalence). It’s OK to choose not to use.
Additional Resources:
• http://ots.ca.gov/ — Drug Use Rises in California Fatal Crashes
• http://nsvrc.org/ — National Sexual Violence Resource Center
• http://www.samhsa.gov/ — April | Alcohol Awareness Month
• Email Caitlin Stinneford at cstinnef@ucsc.edu — For a calendar of UCSC Sexual Assault Prevention initiatives
• http://www2.ucsc.edu/healthcenter/shop/aod-program.shtml or email pwillis@ucsc.edu — For information about UCSC AOD programs
Please choose to make safe choices; choose to support the safety of your friends.
Nader Oweis, Chief of Police
University of California, Santa Cruz Police Department
Report all in-progress crimes by calling 9-1-1. Anyone with information about criminal activity is encouraged to call the UC Santa Cruz Police Department at 831-459-2231. Reports may also be made anonymously by calling 831-459-3TIP (459-3847) or submitted online via http://police.ucsc.edu/crime.html.
This Bulletin is in Compliance with 20 U.S.C. Section 1092 (f), the "Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act" ("Clery Act"), and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
