IUPD is taking it too far

Last Thursday night a student awoke to an IU Police Department officer in his face. The 19-year-old shot out of bed and observed the shadow of an officer in his doorway. The delirious student cooperated and admitted he'd been drinking. He was honest about his age. The officer shoved a portable breath test in his face and in the privacy of his own room he received an illegal consumption ticket. Eleven others received tickets that night.\nTwo weeks ago another student was sitting in his room at 2:30 a.m. His door was closed and he was listening to one of his favorite bands. Minutes later an IUPD officer joined him. The officer claimed he possessed a warrant for a noise violation. The only written memory of that Saturday was a ticket marked minor consumption and a fee over $300. Twelve additional students received similar tickets that night.\nI'm curious if the intention of the IUPD is to prove that we are not the number one party school in the nation. I'm also wondering if the crackdown is a result of attaining the reputable status as a college police department.\nThere have been 217 citations for illegal consumption issued this month by the IUPD, 123 more than were issued last September. According to the IUPD blotter, in the two weekends between Sept. 7 and 24, there were 65 people cited for alcohol related incidents. Of those 65 people, 30 were students. Only seven were not Bloomington residents.\nFraternities seem to be in the limelight. First IUPD busted Acacia. Last Thursday, they knocked on Alpha Tau Omega's door. And then Saturday they raided the Phi Delta Theta house only to find no evidence of a party. What a better way to rack up money than to hit up fraternities on the weekend. \nAccording to IUPD Sgt. Don Schmuhl, the IUPD does not have quotas to fill for illegal consumption citations. In fact, when I asked him he laughed at me. He also told me the money racked in from illegal consumption tickets goes to the county for court fees and alcohol classes. In other words, the county raked in $19,500 in four days. \nCurrently, student governing bodies are responsible for holding members of the Greek community and students accountable for their actions. When this doesn't happen, IUPD sees a weakness and decides to step in. But where do our privacy rights begin and end?\nAccording to the Student Legal Services Web site, officers must possess a search warrant to enter private property. In other words, if the IUPD knocks on your door, you're still in control of the situation. According to a Bloomington Police Department officer who wishes to remain nameless, you don't have to let them into your home unless they can see alcohol from the doorway. They cannot however, enter individual rooms without your permission.\nThe SLS Web site also states officers are permitted to search without a warrant if they arrest someone prior to the search. So if an individual boozes at your house, gets arrested and narks -- you're screwed.\nEnding underage drinking is an unattainable goal. I understand that school officials and IUPD officers are concerned with the safety of students, but the more they crack down, the more students rebel. And the more students rebel the more likely he or she is to engage in binge drinking. \nWhen the 21st hasn't yet rolled around, options are limited. It's a common scene for a minor to hang out in his or her room when he or she doesn't have plans. Students shouldn't be persecuted for staying at their house and having a beer or two. There are deeper evils to fight, like the rape in Forest Quad that occurred on Sept. 11 and the forcible fondling case that happened at the main library on Sept. 17.