Despite crackdowns on underage drinking that have pitted police against students, some students say they still don't know their rights.

Christopher Carpenter, a media arts freshman, said he wouldn't know what to do if he was confronted by police, or if his rights were violated.

"I'm not sure the average person would know what to do if an authoritative person violated their rights. They wouldn't know who to turn to," he said.

Mary Morgan, a family studies and human development sophomore, said she feels she knows her basic rights, but not the details or exact limits of those rights.

Morgan said most students don't know their rights. She said schools, especially in the younger grades, should teach students more about their rights, but she feels students have a responsibility too.

"A lot of it is the student; they have to want to know their rights," Morgan said.

Sgt. Eugene Mejia, spokesman for UAPD, said students should be educated about their rights.

"It is a student's right to know as much as possible about their rights," he said.

Mejia said he is unsure whether most students who come into contact with police know their rights.

Officers always read a person their Miranda Rights when police are accusing that person of a crime, Mejia said.

"When students give the right to search, it could be because they know and understand their rights and still want to allow police to search, or because they are unfamiliar with their rights," he said.

Police are only allowed to search a student's property if the student gives permission or if police have a warrant.

Matt Ehler, president of UA's main campus American Civil Liberties Union, said students have the opportunity to learn their rights during the Know Your Rights Fair this week.

"With any encounter with police no one really knows what they can and can't do," Ehler said. "An example is the recent party raids. People don't know what they can legally do in those situations."

But Dawn Wyland, president of the UA's law school division of ACLU, said she believes students are often their own worse enemy by not knowing their rights.

"Most students are not aware of their rights, and even if they are, they may hesitate in using them," she said.

If a student feels their rights have been violated, they have several options when it comes to taking action. James Todd, senior lecturer for the political science department, said students should go to the ASUA Legal Services or the ACLU.

Wyland said it's important to act fast.

"Document everything, get impartial witnesses, and hire a lawyer," she said.

Todd said knowledge of one's personal rights is becoming increasingly important since the government passed the Patriot Act in 2001.

"The government is doing more investigating and we need to be careful not to lose our rights in our thirst for safety," he said.

Todd said the right that is being most threatened in today's world is the right to freedom of expression.

"Students have the right to criticize the Patriot Act, the president, the government. This right is given less protection in tough times," he said.

As part of the week, Ed Morgan will be giving a presentation tonight entitled "You and the Police: What to do in an encounter" at 7 p.m. in the Tubac Room of the Student Union Memorial Center.