Many college students view parties, loud music and alcoholic beverages as part of the “college experience.” While drinking is a common way to celebrate the end of a stressful week, underage UNC Wilmington students must remember that they’re being monitored-on and off campus.

Grayson, whose name has been changed, is a UNCW sophomore and lives in an on-campus apartment. His roommates, all of whom are under 21, drink in the apartment on regular basis.

“They drink in the living room,” Grayson said.  “It’s pretty calm.”

Though UNCW Residents’ Assistants are supposed to “do rounds” and check on students regularly, Grayson has never seen his RA, aside from the required meetings at the start of the semester.

Chloe, whose name has also been changed, is an apartment RA at UNCW.

“We have to do rounds, and those are required,” she said. “On the weekends it’s three-one at 10:00, 12:00 and 2:00.”

These checks include walking through each hallway of a residential area to ensure that students aren’t being too loud.

Though a 2010 Crossroads survey indicates that 85 percent of UNCW students drink on a monthly basis, Chloe has only encountered two incidents of underage drinking in her apartment complex during the past year.

“People are a little bit naïve,” she said.  “The walls are not sound proof. If you’re drinking, we can hear bottles clinking, potentially through the ceiling.”

Even if students, like Grayson, have a relaxed RA, they can still get ticketed by RAs who live on other parts of campus.  Every RA on duty will be doing rounds throughout the night, says Chloe.

Currently, there are 82 RAs at UNCW, and it is their responsibility to ticket and report any on-campus incidents of underage drinking they witness-even when they’re in another RAs building or floor.

Chloe’s advice to underage UNCW students is simple.

“Be smart, be safe, and don’t drink on campus,” she said.

In 2011, the UNCW police department conducted 623 disciplinary referrals on-campus for liquor law violations, but they only conducted 5 on-campus arrests related to drinking.

“Normally, if it’s not a major crime, we’ll do a referral to the dean of students,” said Lieutenant Andrew Paluck, of UNCW police.  The arrests resulted from disorderly conduct, like violence or operating a car while intoxicated.

The UNCW police department will often communicate with the Wilmington police department via radio, according to Paluck.  If the Wilmington police report a large underage drinking bust off-campus, the UNCW police will be on the lookout for unusual behavior as students return to campus.

In 2011, more than 80 percent of on-campus underage drinking referrals and tickets were conducted in the residence halls, which are dominated by freshmen.  Paluck said most calls come from RAs or Residence Coordinators. It is unusual for a student to call because they are unlikely to tell on another student, according to Paluck.

However, if a student would like to report underage drinking, or any other crime, to the UNCW police anonymously, he or she can use the University Police Crime Tip Line by calling or texting 962-TIPS(8477).  Calls and texts to this line are translated through a computer, which is monitored by the UNCW police 24/7.  The line is most popular among students, said Paluck.  The Wilmington police department has a similar line.

Also, the UNCW police department offers a Rape and Aggression Defense course for females, which Paluck recommends, particularly for females who enjoy drinking and/or going downtown at night with friends.

While Paluck’s advice for underage students is to not drink, he advises students who are 21 or older to inform others of their plans for the evening before they start drinking.

“Let someone know your destination, so if you don’t show up at a certain time, someone will know to look for you,” he said.