Sixteen UF students were involved in DUI incidents since July 1, the beginning of the fiscal school year.
This year's student DUI statistics are below pace compared to years before, but Assistant Dean of Students Chris Loschiavo said he expects the number to rise before the second half of the spring semester since people tend to drink more close to graduation.
There were 65 UF students referred to UF's office of Student Conflict and Conduct Resolution for DUI's, during the 2007-2008 school year, Loschiavo said.
When a student is referred by a law enforcement agency for a DUI, the student must meet with one staff member or attend a student conduct committee hearing.
In the meetings and hearings, evidence against the student is presented and disciplinary options are discussed, Loschiavo said.
"We take each individual's circumstances into account when we meet with them," he said
If the student is found guilty for drinking and driving, he or she will probably be suspended from school for a semester, he said.
Students might also be required to attend traffic school, complete service hours and write a reflection or research paper.
UF Police Lt. Stacy Ettel said UPD has two strategies for catching drunken drivers.
At checkpoints, GPD or ASO locks down a roadway and stops a certain percentage of traffic to check for DUIs.
In other cases, law enforcement officers disperse over a certain area to remind drivers not to drive drunk, and they pull over those driving erratically.
Ettel said when drivers see that uniformed officers are in the area, they are less likely to drink and drive.
"Catching a DUI is not our goal," he said "Our goal is to make people aware that they should not be drinking and driving."
