By: Brianna Wallen
Editor-in-Chief
Drug-related disciplinary referrals at university increased more than fivefold in 2025, rising from 27 to 138, according to the university’s 2025 Clery Report.
The report, released Oct.1, outlines reported crimes and campus safety statistics from 2023 through 2025. The increase in drug referrals was among several trends in the report, which also showed slight increases in weapon and liquor law disciplinary referrals.
“The way the Clery numbers come about, there’s a combination of reports that come to us and reports that go to Student Conduct from Res Life,” University Police Chief Kenneth Rahn said. “We’re not involved in a majority of those reports.”
Chief Rahn said the increase in drug infraction could be tied to the growing accessibility of marijuana-related products, though he could not identify one definitive cause.
“Since the decriminalization of marijuana, we have slowly seen a progression of more instances of it,” Rahn said.
Lt. Richard Anderson said that this trend is also credited to Residence Life taking a more active role in documenting violations.
“Res Life has really kind of taken a stance that they’re taking those reports a little bit more this year,” Anderson said.
Liquor law disciplinary referrals also increased, rising from 65 in 2023 to 76 in 2025.
Anderson said the university generally handles these cases through its internal disciplinary process rather than making criminal arrests.
“We don’t want to be arresting people for those minor crimes when we can actually handle it in a different way,” Anderson said.
Rahn said some alcohol-related referrals occur when resident advisers, desk attendants or residence hall directors encounter students who appear intoxicated.
“They’re going to refer to those individuals mostly so that they can make sure that they’re in the right state of mind. Also, get them to see counseling,” Rahn said.
Despite the increase in drug-related disciplinary referrals, drug-law arrests decreased from two in 2024 to zero in 2025.
Weapon law disciplinary referrals also increased, from one in 2024 to three in 2025. Rahn said he consulted University Police detectives and Student Conduct to learn more about the cases.
“A student had a form of a stun gun in their room that they didn’t realize was illegal,” Rahn said. “So, there was no legal action taken against them, but they were referred to Student Conduct”.
Rahn said that the other two cases did not invoke campus police for a criminal investigation.
Weapon-related referrals could involve items such as jackknives, which may be legal to possess but prohibited under Residence Life policies.
“It doesn’t mean that a criminal violation took place. It just could be a school policy violation,” Rahn said.
The Clery Act requires colleges and universities receiving federal funding to publish annual security reports detailing crime statistics and campus safety policies. At the university, the data include criminal incidents handled by University Police and disciplinary referrals reported through university departments.
“My perspective is we’re very fortunate that we have a very good community here at Southern. The student body is excellent. The Res Life staff is excellent, and when something comes up, we usually find out about it pretty quickly and address it collectively,” Rahn said.
Looking ahead, Rahn said the university will continue prioritizing the safety of its campus community.
“Our goal is always for the safety of the students, staff and any people that visit the school here,” Rahn said.
