FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009
Contact: Leah Edwards, University Communications, 304-696-6397
 

Marshall University students partner
with community group on alcohol study

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Two Marshall University geography students recently received a “real-life” research experience thanks to a partnership with a community coalition.

Graduate student Andrew Lowe and senior Chad Pyles compiled information for the report titled “A Spatial Analysis of the relationship between Alcohol Consumption Points and Crime Frequency in Huntington, W.Va.” The research was presented to Huntington City Council in August by the Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership.

“This study is an example of collaboration between a community group such as CCSAPP and a local university like Marshall, working together to address a community issue by using the technology and expertise available at Marshall,” said Anne McGee, Director of  CCSAPP.  “The students met and exceeded our expectations. We look forward to future projects utilizing such a wonderful local resource.”

“Using the GIS (geographic information systems) technology available at Marshall University and crime data from the HPD (Huntington Police Department), Andrew and I were able to come up with the information the coalition was searching for,” said Pyles, a geography major from Barboursville. “It was a very valuable experience for both of us to be able to use what we’ve learned on a ‘real world’ project.”

McGee said her group, which is dedicated to substance abuse prevention, asked the students to see if there is a correlation between density of establishments serving alcohol and crime.   The students’ research indicates there is a correlation between violent crime and alcohol distribution points, but no such relationship exists for property crime and alcohol points.

McGee said the research was financed by grant money from the state of West Virginia.

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