Within the first three weeks of classes at DePaul, there was a 175 percent increase in alcohol-related Public Safety reports compared to the same time period last year, according to campus crime reports.

This year, Public Safety has recorded 11 alcohol violations compared to only four reports last year between Sept. 3 and Sept. 24.

With this increase in reports, the number of students transported to the hospital has more than tripled compared to last year. For the 2013-14 school year, three hospital transports were made. This school year during the same time period there were 10 hospital transports, according to crime reports.

Peggy Burke, the associate vice president for student development, said the university takes these violations seriously.

“These types of violations are very serious to us and we are concerned that there are more in these first few weeks of school,” she said in an email. “Our staff in the residence halls talk about alcohol abuse in group meetings and in one-on-one sessions.”

Brandon Karpieo, a freshman who lives at Clifton-Fullerton, said he hasn’t noticed drinking being an issue in the dorm.

“People’s doors are always shut and it’s pretty quiet, nobody really seems to be making noise,” Karpieo said. “But around campus I see a lot of people going out at night.”

In fact, several of the alcohol related reports didn’t occur in dorm buildings. There were alcohol violation reports for incidents on the Quad, the Clifton Parking Garage and other locations in the campus’ vicinity.

Six of the 11 reports occurred in dorms, with Seton and Munroe Halls recording the most reports with two each.

Karpieo said they were told about alcohol violations and the policy at orientation over the summer as well as during floor meetings at their dorms.

“In the beginning of the year we did have a meeting on our floor and (the RA) went over alcohol violations. I haven’t really seen her in action, but she did enforce the rules.”

However, no resident assistants could be reached for comment on the issue because they are not allowed to talk to media unless granted permission.

Although there’s no way to pinpoint a reason for the increase in reports, freshman Sarah Finck, who lives in Seton, said she noticed the time many students are drinking.

“I think the time that people get drunk is kind of interesting,” Finck said. “Before it’s even dark out people will be heavily intoxicated…that’s really the only thing I’ve noticed.”

Every year, university officials meet with Chicago Police and bar owners to talk through off-campus drinking and ways to inform students about alcohol use and abuse, Burke said.

“Historically, the number of reported instances and the number of hospital transports fluctuate from year to year and we will continue to monitor the reports from this year,” Burke said.