This past Friday, the Georgia Tech Police Department took unprecedented steps to prevent underage drinking and misdemeanors at Greek organizations’ houses.

As the law enforcement department serving the student body, it is obligated to ensure their safety and wellbeing. After several ambulances had been called the previous year due to alcohol-related incidents, the police department strictly enforced drinking laws last Friday.

GTPD enforced open container laws and issued several MIP’s (Minor in Possession) to underage students holding alcoholic drinks. Events at Greek houses were shut down early and individuals were charged with furnishing alcohol to minors.

Perhaps most invasive was when a Public Safety Officer performed undercover operations at multiple fraternities, charging some for furnishing alcohol to minors.

Through past actions and policies, the Georgia Tech Police Department has successfully established trust between themselves and the student body. Although GTPD has every right to enact the law, and should do whatever is in their power to protect the student body, a different approach to the matter may allow them to achieve that without jeopardizing
that trust.

Rather than aggressively  clamping down on perpetrators, the department can shift their focus to preventing students from committing misdemeanors in the first place. That could translate to improving communication with students by notifying them of increased police presence. Informing Greek organizations about tactics like random checks may also prove to be more effective in discouragement, whereas infiltrating them may only lead to charges and arrests.

As it stands, students feel comfortable reaching out to GTPD. Nothing they do should compromise that.