Only a few, raucous underage drinkers endure discipline from the University Police Department each weekend.

And even fewer ever receive a reprimand stronger than a campus citation or a report to Judicial Affairs.

So why is it that some students see the UPD as a bully?

“It seems like the UPD only concentrates on busting kids for alcohol,” Tom Hemberger, a senior speech communications major, said. “They have got to remember it’s a college campus – they piddle around too much.”

UPD Chief Deputy Adam Due said his staff took college youth into account.

“We understand that it is part of the college experience to make mistakes,” he said.

Although the UPD does not regularily arrest students, Kathryn Kusch, a freshman fashion merchandising major, said she wishes for more personal respect.

“Personally, I live in the dorms and they can kind of force you to admit that you are drinking,” Kusch said.

Chris Schultz, a freshman industrial technician major, spent a weekend in jail for using a fake ID, agreed the UPD could use its time better.

“They should worry about other things, like a guy’s car getting busted, or drugs, or violence,” he said. “I think the only way they keep this university running is busting college kids by making them pay fines.”

One possible reason for students’ lackluster perceptions is the leniency the UPD can offer, Due said.

“We have more options than jail,” he said. “We can send cases to the Judicial Board and campus citation.”

Because of the flexibility, which should accomodate students, instead has resulted in giving the UPD a reputation around campus as a group of rent-a-cops or police officers that do not hold the same powers other police officers have.

“We go to the same police academy as everyone else, and we have all the qualifications,” Due said. “I have heard people say ‘A campus police officer cannot stop me.’ But guess again — we can write them up or send them to jail just as quickly as anyone else can.”

Roger Cunningham, assistant chief of the Charleston Police Department, said the UPD and Charleston police forces work together in a mutual-aid agreement, and the two forces pass on information to each other.

“They’re definitely sworn police officers,” Cunningham said.

Due said the UPD actually has a larger jurisdiction realm.

“We have county-wide jurisdiction, whereas Charleston can only preside over the town,” he said. “But the major difference is that customer service here is a big deal — I’m not saying it’s not important for Charleston, but it carries a little more weight around here.

“We’re here for the students.”

Although many students show frustration about the stiff alcohol policy, those same students are content and more importantly, safe.

“I have always felt safe, and I have been here for three years,” said junior special education major Megan Loftus. “And the majority of my classes are at night, and even when I am walking back, I still always feel safe.”