Cops Crack Down on UGA Partiers

Athens-Clarke County police have it their way the University of Georgia will not make the Princeton Review party rankings next year. In the two weeks since the University of Georgia was named the No. 1 party school in the nation, the number of students arrested on drug and alcohol charges have tripled compared to recent years.

University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson told the campus newspaper the Red and Black that cops aren't doing anything different to try to combat the University's party school image. However, some underage revelers may be thinking otherwise.

Some students land in jail before classes begin

According to Athens-Clarke police reports, there have been 43 drug- and alcohol-related arrests made in the last two weeks. A year ago, there were just 15 arrests during the same two-week period. In 2008, this number was 13.

Traditionally, Thursdays have always been big party nights in Athens, this year being no exception. Athens-Clarke police arrested 20 students for underage drinking in the downtown area, UGA police picked up three more on campus on August 19, 2010.

In numerous media reports, the Athens-Clarke police have maintained that officers were just doing their jobs, not specifically looking for intoxicated students. Althought it wouldn't have taken a lot of searching to spot some of the alleged drunken students.

Be it drunk or sober, dressing up like a cat is one sure way to draw attention. According to the Athens Banner Herald, a young woman dressed like a cat caught the attention of an officer as she walked up to a bar in the downtown area. The student admitted to the officer that she'd been drinking, and she was passing out fake IDs because she was told to by a sorority, according to the newspaper.

Despite the arrest numbers, police maintain that responsible students need not worry. Students can still enjoy a night out in Athens, as long as they aren't violating the law.