ORONO – With the start of another semester Tuesday at the University of Maine, campus police have decided to form a closer relationship with certain groups of students.

“We have a team of officers specifically assigned to be the liaisons to athletic teams and the fraternities and sororities,” said Noel March, director of the university’s Department of Public Safety. “Because of the high public visibility student athletes enjoy as celebrities there is often greater scrutiny when one or more of them get into trouble with the law.”

March said the change in strategy is not about surveillance or profiling.

“I don’t believe that student athletes or fraternity or sorority members get into trouble more frequently than any other students might at UMaine, but athletic and Greek organizations will receive a greater amount of notoriety or publicity when one of them does get into trouble,” he said. “Our goal is to be as preventative and proactive as possible by staying closely connected on a regular basis, and build a relationship with these students.”

The hope is that students will feel comfortable with officers who might have questions or concerns. “Partnerships are the key to prevention,” March said.

Lt. Alan Stormann and Officer Deb Mitchell will be working with the Greek organizations. “[Mitchell’s] desk for this semester, for a trial basis, is in the Greek Life Office at the Memorial Union,” March said.

Sgt. Leroy Patterson, Officers James Batchelder and Mark Coffey will be working with the athletic department.

“They’re attending regular meetings, practices and other meetings, and might even travel with teams,” March said.

The extra coverage is in addition to the officers’ regular duties. The campus police force has 31 members, including 20 police officers.