Despite the best efforts of both the administration and student organizations, acts of violence continue to be an issue on campus.
Though there are many factors that may lead up to a violent incident, Deputy Chief Patrick Archbald of the University of Massachusetts Police Department has found one major factor is almost always present.
"I'll say unequivocally that alcohol is the foundation for what are normally very intelligent, forward-thinking, career-minded students," he said. "It's alcohol that causes them to make those decisions and go askew from their normal decision making and get themselves involved in some criminal act."
According to Archbald, when UMPD officers respond to calls about violence on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, the individuals involved had been consuming alcohol "almost without question."
"Invariably, the officers make the observation at the scene," he said. "Even if the officer doesn't make the observation and the defendant doesn't say anything, you can still see by their reaction that they are under a certain level of influence."
While the consumption of alcohol has not become a focal point in recent discussions concerning the stabbing that took place in the MacKimmie residence hall on Feb. 3, it contributed to the violent tensions.
"The two individuals outside of the dorm were under the influence of alcohol," said Archbald. "I feel very strongly that there's a possibility that that whole events may have never happened or may have happened differently were it not for alcohol."
The people involved in the incident, John Bowes, 20, of Hancock, N.H., and Jonathan Bosse, 19, of Milton, Mass., allegedly smashed in a dormitory window of former student Jason Vassell, 23, before entering the building and engaging in an armed fight with Vassell.
"That was really serious," said Archbald. "There were a lot of stab wounds. I can't say for sure that it wouldn't have happened were it not for alcohol. I don't know. All the parties who were under the influence of alcohol acted in a way that they likely would not have acted were they not under the influence of alcohol."
However, some students still doubt that alcohol is what ultimately leads to violence.
"It's a chicken and egg issue," said Zoe Crowley, a junior at UMass. "Does the alcohol cause the violence or are people who are easily violent more likely to drink?"
Crowley believes that violence is mainly an issue of temperament, making alcohol only one of many contributing factors.
"Especially people who drink in large groups at parties, where violence is most likely to occur," she said.
Archbald has also acknowledged that drinking isn't necessarily an issue under the appropriate circumstances.
"There is drinking on this campus by people over 21 who never cause a problem. They're responsible," he said. "We know there's drinking happening on this campus with people under 21 who don't draw attention to themselves. Even though they're breaking the law, they're not out to hurt anyone."
The UMPD currently has only one officer working in the area of community outreach and prevention, though Archbald hopes to see more officers involved in the area in the future.
"There's always different ways we can be approaching the problem," he said.
The department is working with other campus organizations to help open up discussion and prevent violence. Most recently, the UMPD has coordinated with the Not Ready for Bedtime Players to create an anti-violence skit shown in dining commons last week.
"We're trying to strike a balance between providing the students a good environment to learn in and allowing them to explore at the same time and branch out," Archbald said. "Although we understand that alcohol is going to be consumed by this age group, we still understand what our responsibility is and we're not going to back away from that responsibility."
Kaitlyn Silva can be reached at kmsilva@student.umass.edu.
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