Many students yesterday were outraged over the recommendations of the College Committee on Alcohol and Other Drugs, which could bring sweeping changes to the College's social scene if implemented by Dean of the College Lee Pelton.
Students said they understood why the College probably will crack down on under-aged drinking at Dartmouth, but that the recommendations' will have a negative impact on the College and their social lives.
"It's outrageous and it's a travesty of the system," said one senior, who spoke under the condition of anonymity. "Students are going to find a way to get around the new policy and find other ways to get alcohol."
The 20-page report criticizes the College's current alcohol policy, particularly the current Coed-Fraternity and Sorority self-monitoring system. If the proposal is implemented, Safety and Security officers will be able to patrol fraternity basements during College-registered parties, and a mandatory maximum three keg limit will be imposed for a single CFS social event. Kegs would be banned entirely during sophomore summer.
The changes could be implemented as soon as Winter term.
The student who asked to remain nameless said the new policy would lead to CFS organizations having more closed parties, which would divide Dartmouth into two separate social spheres, Greek and non-Greek.
Students were most outraged by the Safety and Security monitoring proposal, and many said it would have detrimental effects on the CFS system. Students said they feared it would drive under-aged students to drink in less-controlled environments, such as dorm rooms.
"It's very dangerous because there aren't going to be many people watching out for you," Yvonne Handler '00 said. "It's just going to make the situation worse."
Some students were also worried about the effects Safety and Security officers would have on the social atmosphere. The proposed keg limitation also angered many students, and sophomores were especially concerned with the keg ban during sophomore summer.
"Parties will just start earlier," Courtney Banghart '00 said. "And students will turn to more hard liquor if they can't have kegs which is a lot more harmful than beer."
Banghart said fraternity parties during weekends serve as a "release" for most students who spend a pressure-filled week with studying and classes.
Student Assembly President Frode Eilertsen '99 said many people on campus were "very emotional," mostly since many did not expect the alcohol committee to make such radical recommendations regarding the policy.
"The outcry is obvious since it affects a great majority on the campus," Eilertsen said. "But hopefully we'll see the outcry change into creative ideas and ways to work it out."
