By Melissa Boyd

Whetstone staff writer

A sign proclaiming Wesley is an alcohol free zone

It’s a fact of life. College students are going to drink.

Between Aug. 15 and Sept. 30, Wesley issued 29 alcohol violations.

During the same period for last year, there were 68, said Walter Beaupre, director of safety and security, who recently released the annual security report.

In 2009, there were 105 liquor law violations, while the previous year only had 37.

“We have increased security during event hours,” Beaupre said. “If the student is in violation of the college policy or Delaware State law, they are issued a citation.”

Students are not given warnings with liquor law violations.

“The first fine is $200, which goes to alcohol education,” he said. “It is also used to pay part-time security staff.”

Many of the citations given out this year have been to underage students.

“Of the 29 violations so far this semester, 23 were underage,” Beaupre said. “I would say this is because as our students are living away from home, they have a tendency to explore the limits of this new found freedom.”

Five of the six citations issued in Zimmerman Hall have been to underage students.

The violations reported between Aug. 15 and Sept. 30 add up to about 27 percent of all that happened in 2009.