BLOOMSBURG -- According to an online report, Bloomsburg University has a high percentage of alcohol-related arrests on campus.
While that headline may not sound so good for the school, university officials actually have a more positive view. We talked to officials at Bloomsburg University who say the number of alcohol-related arrests on campus shows the school is serious about alcohol enforcement.
Bloomsburg University is a dry-campus, but recently it made a list that could make you think otherwise. Bloomsburg University was listed number two in the country on rehabs.com's list for on-campus drinking arrests in 2012.
"I've seen it. A pretty decent amount. Probably more than there should be," Robert Ciaccio said.
"Occasionally there are kids who have it in their dorms and stuff like that. I don't think it's as big a deal as they're making it," Kimeera Davis said.
Rehabs.com is a website that helps people struggling with addiction by connecting them with rehab facilities. Its study shows that, in 2012, Bloomsburg University had about 26 alcohol-related arrests for every 1,000 students. Bloomsburg University officials say their own data shows a lower rate.
"Unfortunately, we don't have access to the raw data that they used to collect those numbers," said Joe Wondoloski of the Bloomsburg University Police Department.
The website for the company that compiled the rankings says it counted campuses with more than 5,000 students and only counted liquor-law violations on campus that led to arrests.
Bloomsburg University officials say they are not happy with the report but are trying to put a positive spin on it.
"We look at it as the officers here and the university is enforcing the laws of the commonwealth and also the policies of the campus," Wondoloski said.
Tri Pi Pizzeria is open until four am on weekends. Co-owner Kelby Taylor says his restaurant serves a lot of Bloomsburg University students. He hopes the study does not give Bloomsburg a bad name.
"I'm not saying we don't ever have kids getting just a little bit rowdy here and there, but for the most part, it's nothing we can't handle. It's nothing that happens so frequently that we have to worry about it," Taylor said.
East Stroudsburg University came in at number three in the study by rehabs.com. Shippensburg University was number five. The University of Wisconsin /Lacrosse came in at number one.