The Griffin: volume 59, issue 17 - Mar. 10, 1989

              "I drink a few occasionally to relax and be sociable, but on the weekends I go out with the intention of getting drunk and forgetting about all the homework I have to do," she explained. "But on the average I drink two nights a week excessively to the point of being sick sometimes. One or two other nights, I have a few drinks to relax," she said. "It bothers me when my stepfather drinks," she responded. Another student admitted that her stepfather has a drinking problem, as well as several of her close friends. "I've seen a lot of fights start and a lot of damage done to the dorms because people have had too much to drink," this student explained. on an average four drinks at least twice a week Although the alcohol purchase age was.raised in Dec. of 1985 from 19 to 21, Merrick feels that this has not deterred college students from drinking at all. An alcohol problem is defined by Merrick as drinking more than three or four drinks at one sitting, more than twice a week and in the process doing physical harm to yourself or others. "Raising the purchase age hasn't diminished the use of alcohol," he said. "It is a person's own decision whether they want to drink or not The reality is that no law is going to stop that" "Society makes too big a thing out of alcohol," he said. "It makes the drinking experience the center of social activity." "Canisius has taken a leadership role in spearheading a Task Force on alcohol abuse," Merrick said. "One of the reasons I am here is because of the leadership and sensitivity Canisius has shown in addressing the issue." "We need to take alcohol away from the center of social activities," Merrick said. Valone, in addition to staff and students who witnessed the arrest, was "upset and shocked" by the procedure followed by the "Maybe they thought they looked like students, but they stuck out like a sore thumb," Valone added. Langford disagreed with the term "thugs," used by witnesses to describe the agents ragged attire. Although the men were not dressed in "business suits," Langford said they wore "street clothes." Ganisius student Robert Kiszewski was arrested on Feb. 22 in the office of Associate Dean of the Business School Dr. James Valone by three FBI agents, dressed like "thugs," Valone said. G. Robert Langford, the special agent in charge, stated, "We have had an excellent relationship with the College in the past It was unfortunate that the arrest occurred on campus. However, we're empowered to do that" "I do not want the campus invaded again. . . . We have consulted with our attorney, following a course of action that is proper and legal," Rev. Edmund G. Ryan, SJ., executive vice president for academic affairs, said. by Molly McCarthy The Special Agent in Charge of the local FBI office, has apologized to College President James M. Demske, S J., after campus officials expressed outrage over the behavior of agents who arrested a non-traditional student in a dean's office. "Several uncles close to me are alcoholics" one student agreed. This same student admitted to having Several students admitted to having chemical dependency in the family. Statistically, out of 25 students in a classroom, five or six come from an alcoholic family, Merrick explained.Students who have a family history of alcohol abuse, tend to drink more and have a greater chance of becoming chemically dependent, Merrick said. The Col lege has become concerned over the abuses of alcohol on campus after a number of students approached the Counseling Center for help with issues concerning alcohol, both their own problems and problems developed by those close to them, according to Moll. According to Merrick, national studies show that one out of every 10 students who drinks is on his way to becoming chemically dependent. "The majority of problems that college students experience, academically, socially, emotionally and mentally, have alcohol abuse as the root cause," added Michael Merrick, a specialist on substance abuse and consultant to the Counseling Center. "I do believe that we have students who have not come to terms with being responsible about their behavior in general as well as their drinking behavior," she said. "There are a number of students who assume that because they are here at college, it is their right to drink," she continued. "Alcohol is the drug of choice by our students; its abuse is a problem on our campus," said Christine Moll, director of the College Counseling Center. The survey will be distributed to students in the cafeteria in order to assess what the college needs to do to deal with the needs of the college in regards to its alcohol problem, according to Moll by Valerie Latona On Tuesday the Undergraduate Student Association(US A) unanimously passed a motion recognizing "the serious alcohol and substance abuse in our society" and endorsing the distribution of an Alcohol/Drug Use Survey on campus to alleviate substance abuse on campus. "We are not ready for Prohibition," Moll emphasized. "What we need is an attitude adjustment in terms of what the core issue of our social activity is," agents. According to Valone, the agents failed to identify themselves even after Kiszewski was apprehended on a charge of parole violation. Paul Moskal, media representative for the local FBI  said the agents have "no legal1 requirement" to show identification.Langford specifically apologized for the failure of the agents to identify themselves after the student's arrest, Fr. Ryan said. Of particular interest to officials is how long the agents were on campus before they apprehended Kiszewski. Langford did not know how long the agents were on campus before the arrest but said they had gone to several places before locating him on campus. Director of Public Safety Samuel G. Puma noted that his staff is continuing its investigation of the incident on Feb. 22. "There are a lot of questions left to be answered," he said. Puma added that Fr. Ryan is "spearheading" the investigation.Not satisfied with an apology, Valone stated that he would like "a guarantee from the Bureau that procedures would be reviewed and disciplinary action would be taken against the agents." Langford met with Fr. Ryan after the incident but would also like to meet with Fr. Demske to discuss the matter, he said. According to Langford, one of the supervisors of the local (cont d on page 9) FBI Apologizes After Officials Express Outrage "This [problem] is something that all Americans should pay attention to," said Curtin. "We simply believe that, at this time, we do not have the resources to get to the bottom of this prob/ i'.l .... in Curtin pointed out that New York City experienced 1,800 murders last year and that at least 40 percent of these were drug-related. There are by R.E. Hassett Drugs. Both Curtin and Dillon agreed that the drug problem is escalating at an alarming rate. A problem that many believe is becoming more and more serious every day in this country. The drug problem and some tentative solutions provided the subject for a public discussion Tuesday night in the Grupp Fireside Lounge between U.S. District Court Judge John T. Curtin and Erie County District Attorney Kevin Dillon. Legalization of Drugs Provides Fuel for Forum Dillon argued that the only way to stop the wildfire spread of this problem is through socialization, the creation of a general atmosphere that is hostile to drugs. now three times the number of cocaine addicts in the United States as there had been in 1986 due to the spread of the highly addictive cocaine derivative, crack, he explained.U.S. District Judge John T. Curtin, right, fields a question Tuesday night at a drug forum as District Attorney Kevin Dillon consults his notes. Photo by hah; leone G"R1'FFIT^ Serving The College Community FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1989 VOLUME LIX, NUMBER 17 Alcohol Abuse a Say Officials and Campus Problem Student Senators "Generally, alcohol is an issue for college students across the board," Moll explained.