FROSTBURG -- Like residents of any college town, Frostburg's citizens have seen -- and tolerated -- a lot of young-adult foolishness since the town's 5,000-student state university opened 92 years ago as Maryland Normal School No. 2.
But this fall, Frostburg State's status as town focal point and largest economic pillar notwithstanding, community leaders decided they had tolerated all the student drinking and partying they could stomach -- and they cracked down.
With impact.
The fallout from their action still is playing out on and off campus, in court and in town businesses, as well as in fraternity houses.
The short-term result of police raids at multiple off-campus sites primarily during two October weekends, including the traditionally festive homecoming, was more than 250 citations for underage drinking, vandalism, noise and disorderly conduct.
That was six times the number of such citations given in the corresponding period a year ago and by far the most anyone in authority these days can remember.
Police also made 24 arrests of people 18 to 24 years old charged with more serious violations. The town's action seems to be the largest of its kind in Maryland's college towns in recent years. Neither Maryland Higher Education Commission nor University of Maryland System officials knew of any other sizable crackdowns by police at state campuses.
Town officials, police, college administrators -- and even some students -- agree that the raids have made the message clear: Underage drinking and rowdiness will not be tolerated in Frostburg, a well-kept mountain town of about 8,000 people.
The raids were prompted by increasing concern in the community about blatant acts of vandalism, public urination, assaults and rowdy parties that began almost as soon as the fall semester started, said Police Chief Edward Bevan.
Concern among police and college officials escalated when a 19-year-old Baltimore youth was kicked in the head several times by another student and was flown to Cumberland for medical help. "I've never seen the violence and the personal destruction of private property that I've seen this year," said Mayor John Bambacus, who also teaches government at the university.
"The problems went beyond the usual in a small college town," he said. "When you literally get in a situation where hundreds of students are breaking windows and bottles, that's totally unacceptable. The community will not tolerate that type of behavior."
Said Chief Bevan: "The incidents seemed to escalate and were getting more severe. It seemed to be worse this year than other years. The citizenry were complaining. Things were in disarray."
Bob Connor, the city's public safety commissioner, said that "most of the problems" came from off-campus house parties conducted by students that drew 200 or more people. Typically, party sponsors charged admission of $2 to $5 and served beer or other alcoholic beverages to anyone who paid the fee.
Mayor Bambacus said college administrators and even many students have been supportive of the town's stance.
"We appreciate the presence of the university in our community. We have problems with just 1 or 2 percent of the student population," he said. "But we can't have these problems when we're trying to market tourism and attract the Washington Redskins training camp."
Improving tourism is a widespread effort throughout Western Maryland. The Redskins camp issue was raised during the squabble over Baltimore not getting a National Football League franchise when Redskins' owner Jack Kent Cook said he might move his team's preseason camp to the Frostburg campus.
Catherine R. Gira, the university president, added that the university also has attempted to crack down on students causing problems. Two students have been expelled and four suspended for violations that include alcohol abuse, fighting, drug use and sexual assault.
But "we alone cannot resolve these problems when they're off campus," Dr. Gira said. "There's a rising concern about alcohol consumption among young people across the country. It is not just alcohol abuse but the kind of irresponsible behavior driven by alcohol abuse. The behavior is 90 percent related to alcohol consumption."
Dr. Gira commended students for trying to rectify the situation since the October raids.
Susan Llewellyn, president of the Student Government Association, said students are aware of the problems and want to work with the town. Students, she said, have attended City Council meetings and city officials have appeared at SGA meetings and other student functions. "We don't want this to be just an effort against the students," Ms. Llewellyn said. "We want make the community better for everybody. Students are concerned. There's certainly a consciousness and an awareness the problems with underage drinking."
The campus Interfraternity Council -- which represents seven fraternities -- has initiated a three-point plan to help curb underage drinking and other problems.
Under the plan, expected to start next semester, off-campus parties will end at 11 p.m.
A designated sober student will monitor each party and "card" other students to keep out those under the legal drinking age. The following morning a team of students will clean up any trash.
October's raids continue to crawl through the court system. Allegany County State's Attorney Lawrence Kelly said that about half of the Frostburg cases have gone through District Court and that most students have received $85 fines (which includes court costs).
About 20 students -- the first to be processed -- were required to perform community service, he said, but prosecutors have since been pushing for fines at the request of Frostburg officials.
Not everyone agrees, predictably, with what has transpired. Students and even some business owners contend that police overreacted and, in some cases, harassed students.
"There's a perception in town that many college kids are here to drink," said sophomore David Scott Gray, sports editor of the student paper.
"They only see that, and they don't see a lot of the community service students do."
Owners of several businesses said their weekend sales have dropped because students no longer frequent some shops.
"I haven't had business in five weeks," said Kelly Cochran, owner of Hi-Way Pizza on College Avenue, directly across from campus. "Ever since the police came in the attitude among students has been, why should we spend money in your community? They're mad."
Ms. Cochran, whose establishment employs a dozen or so college students, said some students are being unfairly singled out by police on city streets and in eating establishments that serve alcohol.
"Unfortunately, we're making all the kids guilty for what a few have done," she said.
Ken McKenzie, owner of Lucky's Cut-Rate Liquor Store on Main Street, said his store has been affected, but he would not say how much.
"In any college town you're going to have some drinking," he said. "The police and authorities should concern themselves more with the violence. I'm not condoning underage drinking, but it's been a little overblown by authorities."
Brian Winder, a 22-year-old senior from Towson, said students viewed the use of state troopers in the raids as harassment. Frostburg police, though, said the city's force wasn't adequate for the party raids.
"There's no social life here now," Mr. Winder said. "Students are going home for the weekend. A lot of students feel this is turning into a suitcase campus."