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USCPD adopts alcoh >1 program Campus police equip themselves with new handheld scanning devices to deter fake ID users, alcohol abuse BY JON SERPAS THE GAMECOCK The USC Police Department has adopted a new alcohol en forcement program. Police de partment officials said the goals of this program are to educate al cohol vendors, educate students on the state alcohol laws and en force these laws. “Safety is our first and foremost goal of this alcohol enforcement program,” said Ernie Ellis, direc tor of Law Enforcement at USCPD. If a student is underage, and is charged with an alcohol violation, it can “seriously affect your fu ture,” Ellis said. One possible con sequence of underage drinking is a loss of academic scholarships at Carolina. Ellis said one of the most com mon offenses for first-year stu dents is possession of fake IDs. Ellis said modern technology has made it easy for students to get fake IDs. Underage students often use fake IDs to buy alcohol, Ellis said. To battle this, USCPD has equipped itself with a new hand held device that scans an ID to de termine whether it is real or fake. The device reads off of the mag netic strip on the back of the ID to validate. South Carolina driver’s licenses are one of the many states that have this on the li cense. Officers will be using these devices not only on campus, but in the Vista and Five Points areas as well. Ellis has also focused on edu cating the USC community. “We have a great interest in helping students expand knowl edge of safety, and we see that just as important as English or chem istry classes,” he said. Because the USC campus is in a metropolitan area, the students often deal with outsiders of the USC community. As a result, peo pie wno seem to be USC stu dents are often involved in crimes. The “biggest crime we expe rience at USC is larceny,” Ellis said. Ellis added that people must lock their doors at all times and secure valuables in the trunks of their vehicles. “Crime prevention is a com munity project, not just a police project,” Ellis said. Ellis has also been petitioning the city of Columbia to provide safe lighting on Greene Street. This was recently approved be cause it has become a high-traffic area for pedestrians. While USCPD is putting in more than its fair share of effort, some students still feel unsafe walking in the USC area. Claire Setton, a first-year business stu dent, says she feels unsafe walk ing around USC at night. “I nev er walk alone; we (my friends) aon i reaiiy walk around at night. There’s no way I’d ever walk down town by my self,” she said. Students who find them selves having to go out late at night should walk in groups if possible. Students who must walk alone should call the USCPD for an escort. Ellis also suggests that students report suspicious people they may en counter on campus. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com ■>il “Safety is our first and foremost goal of this alcohol enforcement program.” ERNIE ELLIS DIRECTOR OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AT USCPD A* Bp ™ Committed to Strengthening the Financial Future of Students... Serving the University Family with Quality Financial Services Since 1967 Carolina CoBegate Federal Credit Union 710 Pulaski Street • Columbia, South Carolina 29201