If there is one common thread among students amidst Sophomore Summer, it is that most are not yet 21. The College is well aware.
Recognizing that the majority of students on campus this summer are under legal drinking age, the administration has thus far strictly adhered to its policy of banning recognized student organizations from registering parties with alcohol for the term.
"To buy alcohol and serve it to minors is against the law," said Marty Redman, dean of Residential Life. "The policy is a legal kind of thing. Hanover is a small town. Everyone including Stinson's knows it's mostly sophomores here."
The Office of Student Activities, the administrative body in charge of registering parties, made its message clear to Greek leaders at the beginning of the term in a memo sent by Assistant Dean of Student Life Joe Cassidy on June 23.
"We do not regularly register social events with alcohol during the summer term," Joe Cassidy wrote. "Because of the small percentage of students that are of legal age, it is unlikely that exemptions will be granted."
No exceptions to the College's policy regarding parties have been granted yet this summer, Director of Student Activities Linda Kennedy said.
Last year Greek organizations were able to bypass the College's regulations by proving that a sufficient number of legal drinkers would attend the party. The most common request for an exception to the school's policy arises when Greek houses invite a large number of alumni or off-term of-age students to a specific party.
To apply for an exemption to the summer party registration policy, an organization must submit a written request to Cassidy. Last year, discretion to register parties switched from the Office of Residential Life to the Office of Student Activities. Cassidy blamed the transition of responsibility for the confusion.
"It was an error on my fault to register any parties with alcohol last summer," said Cassidy.
For Parents' Weekend, Phi Delta Alpha fraternity tried to register a catered barbecue event for parents that would include beer. Although Phi Delt hosted this same event last summer, this year's petition was denied.
"If Parents' Weekend and having alumni up are not enough reason to have registered parties, then what would be?" said Phi Delt President Dino Hall '06.
Sigma Delta sorority president Meredith Lunn '06 expressed similar frustration. Sigma Delt holds a party for alumnae every summer. The house has submitted a request to register a party, but has not yet received a response.
However, few students cite the lack of registered parties as cause for major change in Dartmouth's social scene.
According to Kappa Delta Epsilon sorority co-social chair Kaethe Henning '06, her house may not have huge parties with alcohol, but it still has cocktails, pong tournaments, sister events, and events with other houses. More students live off-campus over the summer and throw parties in their homes, beyond the discretion of Safety and Security.
Alpha Delta fraternity president Russell Daiber '06 even saw a bright side to the restriction on registered parties.
"I feel that sometimes registering a party is a huge hassle, because you have lots of stuff to worry about like registering the kegs, a Safety and Security walkthrough, and having someone work your front door, which can be a big pain," Daiber said. "When there are this few people on campus, I might even like it better without registering -- less things to worry about in general."
