The number ofstudents'alcohol-related emergency room visits has decreased so far this year compared to previous years, but there was an unusually high number of such visits during the first three weeks of this semester.
Director of Student Health Dr. James C. Turner said there were more alcohol-related emergency visits than usual in the first three weeks of the semester but the average now is only one or two visits per weekend - the same as last semester.
There were 14 alcohol-related emergency room visits over the first three weekends of the semester, which averages to about 4 or 5 alcohol-related visits per weekend.
These numbers are higher than the numbers for the first three weekends of fall semester.
Turner said he could not "recall a weekend in the first semester when we had as many as four or five" visits.
There were four more incidents over the next two weekends. Last semester there were 32 total student visits to the hospital due to alcohol during 18 weekends.
The 1996-97 and 1997-98 school years each saw about 125 incidents of students visiting hospitals over the weekend due to drinking. The 1998-99 school year recorded a significant drop, with only 70 hospital visits. If trends continue, the 1999-2000 year will have a roughly similar year.
Turner listed a "confluence of factors that results in heavy drinking" including football games, social activities and fraternity rush.
Fraternity rush took place during the three weeks during which the number of visits increased, but Turner said any connection drawn between rush and alcohol-related emergencies would be "pure speculation."
Dean of Students Penny Rue reiterated this statement and offered an alternative explanation for the increase.
The rise "coincides with the beginning of first semester ... students aren't academically weighted down yet," Rue said.
Inter-Fraternity Council President Justin Saunders said he also did not feel rush played any part in the increase in alcohol-related emergency room visits.
University Police Sgt. Tom Durrer said he was not aware of any alcohol-related problems during this year's rush.
Turner emphasized that the rise at the beginning of the semester is not necessarily a shift from last semester's statistics. "It's possible we could get to May and still have 32 to 34 visits from alcohol," he said.
Rue also said it is too early to tell whether any trend of increased alcohol-related visits will continue.
"Preliminary numbers from February are lower," she said.
She added she is "happy when students go to the emergency room" if they or their friends feel they are in need of medical attention due to drinking.
Read More
Israeli flag vandalized in Rouss-Robertson Hall
By Finn Trainer | YesterdayIn her statement, Dean Jenkins encouraged any student with information about the incident to come forward.
Student Council approves new CIOs, introduces Director of University Relations
By Vyshnavi Tatta | YesterdayDuring the Legislative session, the Student Council unanimously passed a bill to approve new CIOs, including Common Sense Club and Global Research and Consulting Club.
U.Va. Health faculty demand removal of health system CEO, School of Medicine dean
By Grace Thrush and Ford McCracken | 2 days agoThe letter states that leaders in U.Va. Health have dismissed, punished and silenced those who have followed U.Va. reporting protocols.
