Police expect less crime with shorter Fall Welcome

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From out-of-control house parties to students urinating in the streets, Fall Welcome can mean increased crime on campus and extra hours for police officers, East Lansing police Capt. Bill Mitchell said.

But with only a few days of free time for incoming students to wander the city streets, Fall Welcome might pose less problems this year, Mitchell said.

The orientation was shortened in 2009 when administrators pushed back the move-in date for freshmen.

This year, freshmen begin moving in on a Sunday, and classes begin Aug. 31, three days later.

The change was made to limit the amount of free time students have and to focus the orientation more on preparing for classes, Campus Living Services Director Sharri Margraves said.

With less free time, students haven’t been involved in as much crime, Mitchell said.

“Students come back (and are) just wandering around late at night looking for parties,” he said. “Now, there’s not a lot of people with time and nothing to do.”

Even with a shortened week, students have the opportunity to see the sights of the town, Margraves said.

“The student is just really more focused academically,” she said. “The free time still is pretty remarkable — I think it’s a good balance.”

But for Patrick Mack — who graduated in May and was among the students who explored the city before classes began — a few days isn’t enough to adjust to campus.

“I don’t think the drinking or the possibility of drinking outweighs figuring things out,” Mack said. “I don’t see benefits to shortening (Fall Welcome).”

A year after Fall Welcome was shortened in 2009, there were 844 calls for service to East Lansing Police and 109 arrests during the first few days before classes.

Less than half of the arrests — about 40 percent — were students, according to police records.

In 2007, 1,141 calls for service were made.

“We’ve had a lot less problems with the change,” MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said. “But most of them probably … happen (in East Lansing). Students gravitate to Grand River Avenue.”

Despite the decrease in crime last year, police already are planning to increase patrol to deal with students returning to campus.

With the first football game on Sept. 2, a Friday night, police face additional challenges in keeping East Lansing safe and under control, Mitchell said.

More MSU and East Lansing officers will be working that night to regulate traffic and monitor the area but not more than a typical football game, police said.

About 40 police officers will patrol the city at night on additional shifts before school begins, Mitchell said.

MSU police, Michigan State Police, the Ingham County Mounted Division and others are providing additional support, he said.

Despite precautions, Fall Welcome should be calm this year, McGlothian-Taylor said.

“We’re not expecting any problems,” she said.

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