As Rowan University continues to expand into the surrounding city of Glassboro, New Jersey, more students are being welcomed each year. This fall semester, Rowan welcomed their largest freshman class to date. With an increase in students comes an increase in housing, resources, student involvement, and nightlife. Rowan University is trying to reach the status of an R1 university, but its title as a huge party school is becoming an even bigger reality.

The Courier Post recently published a story documenting “quality of life offenses” during a night out on Rowan Boulevard. Quality of life offenses include “noise violations, maintaining a nuisance property, public urination, littering, and alcohol-related violations,” according to Rowan Police Lt. Commander Rachel Baum. 

Baum explained that quality of life offenses are generally non-violent “minor” offenses.

“While these offenses are considered minor when they occur frequently, the impact to the community can be severe – such as residents of local Glassboro neighborhoods opting to move out of town due to the ongoing noise and middle of the night disruptions,” said Baum. 

Rises in quality of life offenses, specifically the offenses that are influenced by alcohol or marijuana, can lead to more serious crimes committed. 

“We also typically see a rise in crimes such as assaults and thefts following these quality of life offenses – when there are large gatherings of intoxicated people, whether on or off campus, there will always be quality of life offenses,” Baum said. 

The 2024-2025 Clery Report released by Rowan University shows that from 2021 to 2023, there were five cases of aggravated assault in 2021 and 2023 on campus and six in 2022. In on-campus student housing there were four instances in 2021 and 2022 and two in 2023. On non-campus property, there was one case in 2023, and on public property, there were two cases in 2021 and 2022, and three in 2023. On campus in 2021 there was one case of motor vehicle theft and three reported instances in 2022 and 2023. There was one case on non-campus property in 2021 and 2023, and two on public property in 2022. 

As for liquor and drug law arrests, there were four liquor law arrests in 2022 and 2023 on campus, and three drug law arrests in 2021, eight in 2022, and four in 2023. On public property, there were six liquor law arrests in 2021, four in 2022, and 11 in 2023. Drug law arrests were seven, six, and 14 for the corresponding years. Liquor and drug law referrals were much higher on campus from 2021 to 2023. Liquor law referrals went from 40 to 12 to seven, and drug law referrals were 21 in 2021 and zero in 2022 and 2023. 

In attempts to curb these quality of life offenses, Rowan Police staff more officers during peak days and hours. Almost a year ago, the Glassboro Police Department introduced their “Party Patrols,” which are groups of officers on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights meant specifically to address quality of life offenses. Around this time the Glassboro Police also re-established their Community Response Unit, designed specifically to address quality of life issues. 

At the first Board of Trustees meeting of the 2024 school year on Sept. 11, the Board approved the funding of three firefighters and four law enforcement officers to the city of Glassboro. The Board’s agenda states that Rowan will fund the salaries and fringe benefits of four officers not exceeding the amount of $600,000, under Resolution 2024.09.07. 

Sophomore biology student Yana Alrabbat would not compare Rowan to other well-known party schools, such as the University of Alabama, and said when she does occasionally go out, “nothing weird happens.”

“I don’t think we’re that big of a party school, but when there are parties, they’re very normal,” said Alrabbat. 

Niahi Patel, Rowan sophomore, said she feels secure with the amount of police presence on campus. 

“I feel like there’s always cops everywhere around campus, if you need anything, they always have the poles with the buttons, or like, a number to call and stuff. So I think it’s pretty safe,” said Patel. 

Even with late-night classes, Alrabbat is not weary of walking around campus by herself. 

“I have 9 p.m. classes now I get out, so like, I feel really safe just walking, you know, to my car or walking around to grab a bite,” said Alrabbat. 

Although quality of life offenses may seem like they have minimal impact, Baum urges that they can lead to greater harm. 

“Even though these quality of life offenses seem minor, the environment that they create nearly always leads to more serious crimes. The Rowan University Police Department is committed to addressing quality of life offenses in an effort to create an environment that is safer for our students and more pleasant for the neighboring community,” said Baum.

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