WASHINGTON – Drinking on college campuses has long been an issue, but for the University of Maryland at College Park, this year has not started as officials had hoped.
Twenty-eight students were transported to medical facilities for alcohol-related sickness in the first two weeks of the new semester. That is double the number during the same two week period last year.
“There’s no way to police yourself out of this issue. This is a societal issue. People need to take responsibility for their own behavior,” says University Police spokesman Marc Limansky.
Most of those students involved have been underage and on their own for the first time, he says.
University police are stepping up intervention programs as a result of the binge drinking, Limansky confirms. Most of the drinking occurs off campus, but he says some of the students will face diciplinary action.
WTOP’s Hank Silverberg contributed to this report. Follow Hank and WTOP on Twitter.
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