CCAOD: The SA Responds

By Alexander Wilson | Wednesday, February 4, 1998

On Monday, February 2, the Student Assembly presented a counter-report to last fall's controversial recommendations on alchohol use drafted by the College Committee on Alcohol and Other Drugs (CCAOD).

The Student Assembly failed in its report to address any of the chief concerns raised by a student body hostile to CCAOD's recommendations at the report's November presentation.

The counter-report did not oppose CCAOD's recommendation that campus security forces be permitted to enter and search Greek houses without cause.

The Student Assembly also failed to challenge the legal basis of CCAOD's report. A number of critics, most notably Math Professor John Finn '69, have claimed that the CCAOD report misrepresents Dartmouth's current policies towrds alcohol as incompatable with state and federal law. Dartmouth, Finn and others have claimed, already goes above and beyond legal requirements.

The report aimed 'to propose ways to curtail underage drinking and to stop unsafe, irresponsible drinking habits by means of implementing new programs of alcohol education and promoting an increased sense of social responsibility shared by every member of the Dartmouth community.'

Only a small section was devoted to answering the five recommendations made by CCAOD.

The first recommendation, to lower the cost of Dick's House, took effect as of this year and was approved by the Student Assembly.

CCAOD's recommendation that all Co-ed Fraternity Sorority(CFS) houses submit alcohol management plans for approval was also endored, though the Student Assembly expressed concern over the fairness of the the approval process. Properly managed, the involvement of the CFS houses would be beneficail, the Assembly claimed, and would contribute to a sense of partnership between the administration and the student body.

The most controversial recommendation, Safety & Security patrols of CFS houses during parties on an unannounced basis, was accepted with some reservation by the Student Assembly.

Suggestions included a call from S&S fifteen minutes before any patrols and a requirement that S&S be accompanied on any patrols by an officer of the CFS house in question.

Another CCAOD recommendation, the shut down of all CFS parties by 2 a.m., received more criticism than the others.

Partiesshould not be closed down until 2:30-3 a.m., the Assmebly suggested, and added that there should be other late-night social options — such as keeping Collis and Food Court open until 3 a.m..

The final recommendation, a new keg formula, received minor changes. The Assembly did not argue against the new formula, despite student ridicule of the '3 drinks per legal drinker' assumption of the administration. It suggested that the new formula be applied in the summer, instead of the CCAOD's proposed keg ban during summer term.

The students also protested limiting a single house to 3 kegs per party, preferring the 24 keg on campus limit to stand alone and recommended that the actual dispersion among houses remain unregulated.

The majority of the document was relegated to SA recommendations in four sections: Safety, Individual Responsibility / Punishment, Education, and Social Alternatives.

SA was concerned that the new policies recommended by CCAOD will result in higher risk drinking, especially of hard liquor, in dormitories.

The counter-report also stressed that, currently, CFS houses bear an unfair amount of responsibility for underage and excessive drinking. that personal responsibility The Assembly recommended should be given a greater role, through both education and punishments meted out to individual students.

Suggested punishments included fines and community service work as well as more creative ideas.

One proposal suggested that a student thrown out of a CFS party be required to meet with the members of that house the next day.

Other recommendations included a 'tick mark, or irremovable red spot, on the Dartmouth ID of those students picked up for underage or irresponsible drinking.'

This mark would then alert CFS houses of the nature of their potential guest, and he/she could be turned away.

CFS houses would still be subject to the same penalties for serving underage drinkers under the SA plan.

Alcohol education, especially among freshmen, the Assmebly asserted, is a critical ingredient in reducing unsafe drinking habits.

Suggestions include a mandatory two hour health class on alcohol and other drugs, and community dinners with alcohol experts and peer advisors.

The final recommendations dealt with social alternatives to the CFS houses. meaningful social options for students not interested in attending CFS parties The assembly opined are conspicuous by their abscence at Datmouth.

As one student quoted in the report said, 'When are they[the administration] going to realize that if they seriously want to improve the campus drinking culture, then they have to be willing to for once put some money into it?'

Finally, legislation alone, the Assembly noted, would not end the drinking problems at Dartmouth but admitted that 'Greek System reform isn't a bad place to start.'

The Coed Fraternity Sorority Council has submitted its own counterproposal to the administration's report last week. It came as a response to the CCAOD call for CFS houses to submit alcohol management proposals.

The CFSC proposal is to be enacted in all CFS houses if it is approved by the CFS membership. This type of universal management plan was urged by members of the Council, notably former President Chris Atwood '98, as a means to simplify compliance with the new alcohol policy.

The goals of the report, according to current President John Muckle '99, are 'lowering underage drinking and providing a safer drinking environment on campus.'

The report itself has not been made public. CFSC has said that it does not wish student responses to influence Dean Pelton's decision on whether or not to accept the proposal. However, sources who have seen the report state that it does not seriously question any of CCAOD's statements or recommendations.

Dean Pelton will be reviewing the original CCAOD report and both counter-reports before making a final decision on changes in the current alcohol policy. He has said in the past that such changes will be enacted by the end of Spring term.

CCAOD: The SA Responds

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