The Iona College Department for Campus Safety & Security released their Annual Security & Fire Safety Report on Monday, revealing some surprising campus incident statistics.

The report, also referred to as the “Clery Report” contains a wide range of security information, including emergency protocol, fire statistics, crime statistics and sexual assault prevention and bias-related incident policies.

Of significant note was the rise in drug violations and liquor law violations in the residence halls over the past three years, as well as the rise in disciplinary referrals for those incidents.

Drug violations rose from 26 in 2011 to 48 in 2012, while liquor law violations rose from 96 to 137.

Vice Provost for Student Life Charles J. Carlson feels that these numbers indicate a conscious effort to ensure student safety.

“I would attribute the increase in numbers in both alcohol and other drugs to increased and more focused enforcement on campus,” Carlson said. “This seems to be the case, considering that the self-reported use of alcohol and other drugs by [students] in the CORE survey taken during the Spring 2013 semester indicates that there was a decrease in usage of both.”

Carlson also noted that the rise in disciplinary referrals is a direct reflection of increased policy enforcement efforts.

“It is also important to realize that as per the reporting requirements of the federal government, the number of violations reported in the annual report consists of all students who have been referred to the disciplinary process, not the number of students held responsible,” Carslon said.

Some students point out that stronger policy enforcement is not the only explanation for a rise in these numbers.

“I think the consequences for these offenses aren’t strong enough, so more students are violating the policies,” said senior Diana Montalbano. “They don’t take these situations seriously enough to not do these things.”

Junior Julian Mesa said that students coming to college take advantage of their new home.

“When [students] come to college, they love that experience of freedom,” he said.

The Office of Campus Safety & Security and the Office of Residential Life declined to comment, referring the matter to the Office of Student Life.

The full Clery Report is available online as well as in print upon request from the Office of Campus Security.