Attention stoners, underage drinkers, and drivers under the influence! Chances are, you’re being watched.

Topping the list of equipment used to bust those of us engaging in naughty deeds are patrol vehicles at the campus police department. They own three marked patrol cars, two unmarked and two ATVs.

And though some of us are scared to death of the flashing cherries of those vehicles, it’s the eleven skilled officers that make up the campus police force that we should be aware of.

“We have officers who have undergone specialized training to recognize drug related driving incidents,” said Lieutenant Syrilyn Tong of the campus police.

Most drug-related busts on campus occur when the offender is driving, especially when the colder months set in and people are less willing to freeze for a high.

In the warmer months, officers also patrol by foot and make rounds through popular trails, like the ones in the woods around lower campus, where abusers hide while participating in illegal activity.

Residence Life monitors the MBS complex with cameras in every elevator, one in Hess Rec, two outside the main entrance and one inside the campus cache. Other departments like the office of information technology monitor the cameras at the Rasmuson Library computer lab, and the SRC monitors the cameras there.

However, for those living on lower campus, there is a little less security.

“We want to install cameras on lower campus,” said the Director of Residence Life, Kevin Huddy. “Have more cameras at MBS, and some in the parking lots, but we don’t have the money for it.”

And where does Res Life get funding for things like security cameras?

Student living fees, of course! So, if you ever get busted with the help from good ol’ video technology, you can thank that check you signed at the beginning of the year.

Another effective, yet subtle tactic that both residence life and the campus police employ is preventative teaching. Last year, when more than one case of sexual assault was reported involving the date rape drug GHB, or Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate, hundreds of flyers identifying these drugs were posted all over campus.

At the beginning of each year semester, the campus police train residential staff on drug identification.

“It’s like show and tell,” said Tong. “We show them marijuana and show them what it smells like, and what bong or a pipe looks like.”

The university is also toning down traditional events where drinking and drugs are prominent, like Starvation Gulch and Case Day.

Remember the mechanical salmon on Case Day? He has long since retired after local exotic dancers were paid to ride him topless.

Huddy and Tong agree that, for the most part, the trouble surrounding these events aren’t even because of UAF students. 

“Most problems during these events are caused by people who aren’t even associated with UAF walking around looking for a place to drink,” said Huddy. “They’re less likely to recognize our authority and have nothing to loose by creating problems up here.”

To prevent these drifters from entering our turf and ruining parties, which are all for the sake of tradition anyways, the university now issues bracelets for Cutler students and the guests, to signify whether or not they are “of age” to drink.

There are many ways that the University is trying to keep our campus safe and drug free. But what happens when you do get busted? Here’s a suggestion, be cooperative!

“We have a normal three strikes guideline,” said Huddy. “But it also depends on the students attitude and level of cooperation.”

You might get slapped with a judicial educator, (those boring tests you take on a computer), or have mandatory consoling, but not only could it be worse, you may be helping someone else.

“The biggest contribution to the student safety, are the students,” added Huddy.