Chico State students are drinking more alcohol than their California State University peers.During fall 2003, 85 percent of students at Chico State drank alcohol while 58 to 80 percent of students at other CSUs, which were kept anonymous, were drinking alcohol, according to Safer California Universities Survey.
"They think it's a party school," said Shauna Quinn, program manager at the Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Center.
Alcohol problems are also a result of the bars being located so close to student neighborhoods and to the campus.
"Bars are only two blocks from where students live," Quinn said.
Most students at Chico State don't have to drive to go out for a drink, while students at most other CSUs have to commute to the bars. Chico State is a residential campus and most CSUs are urban campuses. The transportation issue partially explains Chico's alcohol problems, Quinn said.
There are 22 bars in a two-mile radius of the Chico State campus.
"I really think that has a lot do with it," Quinn said.
CADEC campus administrators have been researching Chico State's drinking problems for 16 years. They created an alcohol task force and asked University Police to increase its patrols around student neighborhoods, Quinn said.
Several committees within the community are also working to curb student-related alcohol problems. The committees focus on alcohol and other drug abuse, the Greek system, personal safety in student neighborhoods and hazing in student organizations, Quinn said.
"I think our community and our campus are very actively involved."
The Orion Online - Chico drinks most out of CSUs
