NIU drug and liquor law violations are falling, according to the 1989 Criminal Offense Activity report.

The number of drug law violations went down from 31 reports in the 1987-88 school year to 16 reported in 1988-89.

Also decreasing was the number of alcohol law violations, going from 147 reported in the 1987-88 school year to 130 in 1988-89.

“The majority of persons involved in a crime have been drinking or mixing drugs with alcohol,” said University Police Training Assistant Albert Ekstrom.

One of the biggest problems police face with drug or alcohol-related crimes is solving them, Ekstrom said. Victims have a difficult time remembering the details of the crime, making police reports vague, he said.

When people drink, they tend to “allow themselves to be put in a situation which puts them at risk,” Ekstrom said. Many times “alcohol helps the situation along,” he said, adding this is often what happens in cases of date rape and other crimes.

People often commit crimes “offenders would probably not have done” had they not been drinking, Ekstrom said. These types of crimes are typically vandalism, fighting and criminal damage, he said.

Michelle DalPra, a Douglas Hall senior staff member, said “responsibility is the key” to drinking. “Students should lock their doors and not let people they don’t know on the floor” to avoid unnecessary danger when drinking is an element.

Ekstrom said students and NIU officials need to “re-examine alcohol. The university needs to look at the message it is giving to students.”

NIU does not want students under 21 to drink alcohol, but allows beer companies to advertise on the scoreboard and sponsor many Homecoming activites, he said.

Getting arrested is not always the worst thing that can happen from drug and alcohol abuse, he said. Students should be more concerned about the long-term affects of drinking and doing drugs rather than getting “busted,” Ekstrom said.

Ekstrom said he does not intend to preach to students, although they should pick a drinking limit and nurse their drinks rather than drinking them quickly.