Alcohol infractions at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa have nearly doubled since the start of the fall semester, but UH officials say the situation is improving and that a strict new alcohol policy is working.

"Congregation of people in the common areas, drunk people yelling and screaming — we haven't had any of that this year," said Julia Daily, a 23-year-old resident adviser in the Hale Noelani dormitories. "I would attribute that to the alcohol policy."

There have been 88 alcohol-related incidents reported since the start of the semester, nearly twice that reported at this time last year. However, UH officials say the rise in incidents does not reflect more drinking on campus, but instead more reporting and citation by housing staff.

This year's incidents include at least six reports of possible alcohol poisoning — four of which involved underage students — and at least three dorm parties broken up by campus security, according to campus security records.

Most of the infractions occurred in the first few weeks of the semester and have since tapered off, according to Manoa housing statistics.

But some students say that just because drinking and partying is not visible does not mean it is not happening.

"Drinking still goes on, but people are just more quiet about it," said 19-year-old Kim Anthony, a dorm resident. "They just keep the door shut now."

ENFORCING RULES

Resident advisers — all students — are responsible for enforcing dorm rules, and they are among those who know the situation best.

"The RAs (resident advisers) are being much more diligent about writing people up and reporting people for disciplinary action," said Janice Camara, interim housing director.

Camara carries her cell phone with her at all times to stay in contact with resident advisers about serious situations and said this semester she has received only a few calls.

"Not to say nothing is happening. Things are happening, but it is definitely quieter and more controllable," she said.

The consensus of student resident advisers is that the campus is quieter and in no way compares to last year's weekend parties and excessive drinking.

That's especially true in Hale Noelani, where the interior walkways were used as an interconnecting lattice-work of party space, and where hundreds of students used to congregate on weekend nights.

"If they are doing it, they're being very sneaky and covert about it," said Daily, the resident adviser.

CURBING EXCESSES

Noelani is now one of several residential halls on campus where alcohol is prohibited as a part of the new policy intended to curb underage and excessive drinking.

Denise Konan, interim Manoa chancellor, said last week that the policy is working. "If it is underground, we're not having the same types of alcohol-related issues," Konan said.

The policy grew out of several developments, including a 50 percent increase in alcohol-related violations on campus from 2002 to 2003; the death of a 23-year-old student in 2002 because of a toxic mixture of alcohol and methadone; and rowdy weekend behavior early in the fall 2004 term that included campus security reports of students being taken to a hospital emergency room with alcohol poisoning.

Most of the cases of alcohol poisoning this semester involve students who got drunk off campus, Camara said.

Only a fraction of the alcohol incidents — such things as parties and drinking in alcohol-free dorms — are reported to campus security. Most are handled internally by the campus housing office.

Dorm room parties occurred more frequently during the first few weeks of the semester but have died down, said John Striffler, resident director of Hale Noelani and a Manoa graduate student.

"The first couple of weeks people thought we weren't going to be serious about this. But seeing how serious we are, they get the message," Striffler said.

The policy has been one of the major issues among Manoa students this semester. Some say it's unnecessary because Manoa's underage drinking situation is tame compared with that of some Mainland colleges. Others say they understand why it was implemented but don't think it will work.

Carissa Daniels, a 19-year-old resident, is among the students who think the policy isn't working. She said students drink behind closed doors or simply opt to drink away from the dorms.

"People will find a way to drink, no matter what," Daniels said.

SOME OBJECTIONS

Meanwhile students who are of the legal drinking age feel that the new alcohol policy punishes them. The high-rise Hale Wainani buildings are the only two in the housing complex where alcohol is permitted. But checkpoints are being set up at the entrances on weekends, and any nonresident of the building is required to be signed in and escorted by a resident. The checkpoints are intended to deter parties, Camara said, but residents say it restricts their rights to have guests and to let loose on the weekends.

Christine Phipps, a resident of one of the Hale Wainani high-rise buildings, is one of those students who thinks the policy restricts people over the legal drinking age of 21.

Phipps, 21, said she cannot even walk to her apartment carrying a bag of groceries without security guards checking for alcohol and her ID. "I don't pay to live here to be hassled like this," she said.

As for whether the policy has been successful, she said underage drinking is still going on.

"They're never going to have it controlled," Phipps said.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.