On-Campus Drug and Liquor Violations on the Rise

By Adaora Nnakwe | Published November 8, 2023

Kean University experienced a big increase in the number of drug violations reported in 2022 on the Union campus, according to the 2023 Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report.

The report showed 124 liquor law violations, up just six cases from 118 in 2021. Drug related violations reported jumped to 64 in 2022, compared to 23 cases in calendar year 2021. It was not reported what drugs were confiscated but 64 number of cases were handled on campus as disciplinary cases and zero ended in arrests. 

There have been complaints of marijuana usage from a student who lives on campus. Christopher Moore, a junior exercise science major and a member of Nu Delta Plim fraternity has seen students partake in smoking activities.

 “I’ve seen students using marijuana on campus and I smell it everywhere,” Moore said. “I even see students smoking outside of the dorms.”

The campus disciplinary stats were gathered from the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs. 

The report provides information on student code of conduct, campus safety, emergency contacts, and crime statistics in the calendar year 2020-2022.

The university publishes an Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report yearly, which is required by law under the Jeanne Clery Act to report campus crime data for the awareness and safety of students.

There were four motor vehicle thefts reported on the Union campus, compared to one in 2021. The report shows three cases of arson were reported in 2022, compared to zero in the calendar year 2021. 

Under sexual offenses, one rape case was reported on the Union campus last year and one was reported in a residence hall. These cases decreased to one compared to two rape reports on campus and residence hall in 2021.

A hate crime is defined as any of the above criminal offenses and/or any other crime involving bodily injury reported to local police or to a campus security authority that manifests evidence that the victim was intentionally selected because of bias. The categories of bias under the Clery Act are race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin and disability.

Under hate crime, five bias incidents were reported. One simple assault indicated a race bias, two intimidation indicated race bias, one intimidation and religion indicated bias, and vandalism indicated race bias.

Kean Ocean campus reported one stalking case in 2022. No reports on Wenzhou-Kean campus were reported in the last three years.

For fire alarm stats in Residence Hall, there were no reported fires during spring 2022 through fall 2022. There were a total of 24 fire alarms set off for cooking. The reports showed one alarm in Bartlett Hall, three in Burch Hall, ten in Cougar Hall, two in Freshman Residence Hall, and eight in Upper Class Residence Hall.

Fire alarms were reported for steam from showers in a total of 23 cases. Six in Cougar Hall, tenin Freshman Residence Hall, and seven in Upper Class Residence Hall.

 Cause of alarms for smoking for Residence Hall resulted in 13 reports. Two in Bartlett Hall, one in Burch Hall, one in Cougar Hall, four in Freshman Residence Hall, and five in Upper Class Residence Hall. 

Accidental causes of alarms resulted in 13 reports. One in Bartlett, five in Burch Hall, three in Dougall Hall, one in Freshman Residence Hall, one in Rogers Hall, one in Sozio Hall, and one in Upper Class Residence Hall.

Hair careproducts and blow dryer causes of alarms resulted in 32 reports. Eighteen in Cougar Hall, six in Freshman Residence Hall, and eight in Upper Class Residence Hall. In case of an emergency, call 911 for immediate assistance.

For other concerns, call Kean University Department of Public Safety and Police at (908)-737-4800 (Campus extension: 74800).

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