The number of arrests on Saturday gamedays on campus in the fall was at a four-year low and decreased by nearly half from 2001 despite an increased number of home games.
And only 34 percent of the culprits were MSU students.
About 100 MSU students were among 291 arrested during home football games last season. A year earlier, MSU students accounted for 204 of 521 game day arrests, according to information released Wednesday by the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety.
The report calculated arrests on game days from 7 a.m. until about an hour after the end of football games. There were eight games at Spartan Stadium last season, and seven the year before including the Cold War hockey game between MSU and the University of Michigan.
"People always attribute the entire misconduct of the crowd to rowdy students but obviously it isn't just a student issue," MSU police Chief Jim Dunlap said. "I think the students really rose to the occasion."
Of the total arrests, students make up 5 percent less this year than last.
Last season, police say they gave more responsibility and trust to fraternity and sorority members to monitor their own behavior. An unusual happening occurred, Dunlap said, when students started approaching officers to chat.
Dunlap also attributed the decrease to changing the number of officers in a patrolling group from eight to two. The smaller groups of officers made students feel more comfortable, he said.
Jennifer Nichols, president of the Panhellenic Council during the 2002 football season, wrote a letter to the department in October thanking it for its improved treatment of students. The council is a greek governing board.
"It's an effort on both sides," the finance and Spanish senior said. "Students are being more careful because as they grow up they realize the police are there to help you."
The percentage of MSU student arrests has steadily decreased from 42 percent recorded in 1999.
"We were not trying to discourage the partying, we just want it done responsibly," Dunlap said.
During the Sept. 21 Notre Dame loss, there were 68 arrests - the most of the year. Dunlap said the game traditionally has the most arrests, surpassing U-M games.
Minor-in-possession arrests dropped from 202 in 2001 to only 68 this season. The number of disorderly conduct arrests also decreased by more than half to 43.
Police say these decreases can be contributed to responsible drinking. Dunlap, who became chief during the summer after serving as assistant chief, said students who drink responsibly are rewarded.
"If you're not acting out of the ordinary, you'll probably be fine
