Just past midnight last Friday, two prospective students in town for the Dimensions program for accepted students were found under the influence of alcohol and in possession of alcohol by Safety and Security.
Because the students are not members of the Dartmouth community, Safety and Security contacted Hanover Police, who arrested the students on charges of unlawful possession, according to Hanover Police Chief Nick Giaccone.
The students were held in Grafton County jail until an admissions officer from the College came to bail them out, according to Giaccone.
The unlawful possession charges carry an option of an alcohol awareness diversion program or a mandatory minimum $250 fine for first-time offenders.
According to Assistant Director of Admissions Chris Bradt, there have been problems with alcohol in previous years during the Dimensions program, though no prospective students have been arrested before.
This year, about 400 high school seniors admitted to the College participated in Dimensions in advance of the May 1 decision deadline.
"This happens when people are brought on this campus despite attempts to educate them," Bradt said. "The situation is no different than years past."
Because of their misconduct the students could face a post-acceptance review which could result in a withdrawal of the students' admission to the College.
According to the admissions office website, "the College reserves the right to rescind offers of admissions where the final record is significantly lower than the record on which admission was offered, or for misrepresentation or misconduct."
The admissions office chose not to comment on whether these particular students would be facing a post-acceptance review or the possibility of revoking their acceptance.
The prospective students involved could not be reached for comment.
