A group of students and administrators charged with revising Greek social procedures released a report yesterday recommending adjustments that would reaffirm the responsibility of Greek houses at their own social events.
The "Committee to Revise CFS Social Procedures" approved 29 recommendations during a retreat last month. The committee was co-chaired by Dean of Residential Life Mary Turco and Coed Fraternity Sorority Council President Matt Raben '96. The recommendations, none of which would be dramatic changes to the alcohol policy, now go to Dean of the College Lee Pelton.
Pelton recently created a task force that will evaluate the problem of alcohol on Dartmouth's campus. The task force, which will be chaired by College Health Service Director Jack Turco, will meet during the Spring term.
Thirteen of the recommendations were categorized as "general concerns," and called for better education and training for Greek house members.
The committee recommended that the College strengthen the student alcohol monitor program and called for the College to form a committee to seriously evaluate the program. Some of the ways the committee recommended improving the monitor program include giving them uniforms and walkie-talkies.
The committee also recommended 16 proposals called "event specific." The recommendations include looking at the current formula for kegs at fraternity and mandating that students who man taps be over 21.
The committee rejected a proposal that would allow "Bring Your Own Beer" events and turned down another proposal that would require "separate rooms for the distribution and consumption of alcohol by 21 year olds at registered events."
According to Turco, the committee gathered testimony during last Summer and Fall terms and met Feb. 21.
Committee members included 12 Coed Fraternity Sorority presidents, four roving monitors, four CFS advisers, three non-affiliated students and five administrators.
"We understand that we are young adults and we want our parties to reflect that status," Raben said.
Both Raben and Turco said they think the primary responsibility for policing CFS sponsored social events should remain with the CFS and not be ceded to the College.
Raben cited the role of so-called CFS roving monitors as evidence of this fact. The monitors, who are Dartmouth students and are hired by the CFSC, are responsible for the safety of the students during social events, Raben said.
He said their role will not change, but if Pelton agrees with the committee's recommendations, they will be more legitimate, Raben said.
The committee also approved a proposal to "reaffirm the fact that individual CFS organizations which sponsor registered events are responsible for preventing underage drinking."
Turco said they agreed before voting on that proposal to state their goals for the retreat.
"CFS members wanted their parties to be more adult-like and to promote less alcohol consumption on campus," she said. "They want to lower the liability of the CFS houses that sponsor individual parties."
"They recognize the moral obligation for the welfare of the students in attendance. Finally, they recognize that their efforts should make for a better college atmosphere," Turco said.
In another proposal, the committee agreed to outlaw any devices or signals that might be used to alert house members or party guests to the presence of a Safety and Security officer.
Raben said the devices are no longer used since Safety and Security is no longer responsible for monitoring house compliance. But the measure is still important, he said.
"It is important symbolically, if not materially," he said. "It all has to do with the CFS houses being responsible for themselves," he said.
"Such devices make a mockery of the good intentions of concerned students," Turco said.
The current alcohol policy has been in place since the Spring term of 1993, when it was implemented as a compromise between the administration and the CFS organizations, Turco said.
The policy heralded the return of kegs to Greek parties and the beginning of the student monitors.
At that time, it was specified that the original procedures would come up for review after two years. This committee was the culmination of that agreement, she added.
