Zack Jenio
For some NC State students, Saturday tailgating culture has been one of the aspects of the community that has prevailed from enrollment to graduation. Throughout this time, the iconic Trinity Road, including the Fairgrounds lots and the Carter-Finley stadium parking lots, has stayed consistent. Yet, this fall was the grand opening for the new Station at Raleigh apartments, which opened adjacent to the stadium and across the tailgating lots.
The new development of the college apartments provided varying levels of uncertainty among the community. Law enforcement as well as NC State students and faculty were unsure of what the effects were going to be on Wolfpack football tailgating, but after the first few games, it became clear that law enforcement’s presence in the area grew beyond what was predicted. Although the Raleigh Police Department, Wake County Sheriff’s Office and Raleigh Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) have full authority and jurisdiction to patrol the Station neighborhood, both students and Station neighborhood, after interviewing residents, it seems Raleigh PD is over-patrolling and targeting this residential area.
In continuation with the theme of dispelling myths that are dangerous in nature, it is important to note that the Station is not a “safe haven.” If an underage person walks from the tailgating lot back to the Station neighborhood, they are not protected against being approached by law enforcement, as many think they are. Major David Kelly of the NC State University Police Department confirmed that although university police have no jurisdiction on the Station property (except for prearranged traffic control), the Raleigh PD, Wake County Sheriff’s Office and ALE do have authority and jurisdiction to investigate on that property.
Station resident Brendan Chase, a second-year studying business, expressed the unnecessary need for multiple undercover cars patrolling the Station on certain nights and shared his uncomfortable experience with a group of ALE officers who used excessive force in a recent encounter.
“I was leaving [my] apartment with two friends with no probable cause and no indicator to show that I was intoxicated in any way, and I wasn’t,” Chase said. “I get into my car and I am immediately surrounded by three undercover cars, [confronted] with flashlights and demanded to roll down my window and let them search and examine me without cause. I shouldn’t have to be worried and look over my shoulder every time I want to leave my apartment after nine o’clock at night.”
Moreover, according to Sam Hughson, leasing and marketing manager for the Station at Raleigh, apartment management has heard similar stories and complaints from numerous residents; however, they fully acknowledge that this is the police’s prerogative, and they have full authority and jurisdiction since the residential neighborhood lies in the city of Raleigh.
“I certainly wouldn’t ask the police to stand out there all the time; I do know that does make some individuals feel uncomfortable,” Hughson said. “But at the same time, that’s their job. We can’t ask the police to not do their job on our property, or else that becomes a safety concern. We don’t encourage or discourage anything. We don’t tell them to do their job and we don’t encourage them to do their job to a higher extent than they would do elsewhere. The police are just doing what police do in our neighborhood.”
It’s easy to recognize that Raleigh police and ALE are specifically targeting this new development for underage drinking violations. Residents and management both agree that during the tailgate timings, it makes sense to have increased law enforcement presence, but it’s during other times throughout the weekend that are excessive.
While police and law enforcement serve an important role in our society to facilitate the safety of individuals, excessive pressure in the Station outside of tailgating times is unreasonable. This overbearing tactic at the Station is only pushing more students away. Even though the Station is a new development that most NC and Raleigh stakeholders have a connection to, this is far from the correct method to deal with the new complex.
Next week’s column in the “Underage” series will analyze the tactics of University Police, Raleigh PD and ALE during tailgating events through various criminological theories in an attempt to discuss the efficacy of these strategies as well as examine the public’s response thereof.