Freshman orientation brimmed with a full schedule of activities carefully planned to acquaint the College's newest students with campus. An arrest for underage drinking wasn't on the program.
An unidentified male freshman was arrested after leaving Psi Upsilon fraternity, according to fraternity president Rawson Daniel '05. Safety and Security officers followed the student and a group of friends down Massachusetts Row early on the morning of Sept. 13. Safety and Security witnessed the freshman accept a beer from another member of the group and confronted him.
The freshman originally claimed to be a senior, but was found to have false identification, prompting Safety and Security to call Hanover Police to the scene, according to Hanover Police Chief Nicholas Giaccone.
Charged with unlawful possession of alcohol and possession of false identification, the student has an upcoming court date, said Giaccone.
The student is still subject to the regulations of the Dartmouth Code of Conduct, although he had not yet matriculated at the time of the arrest, said Gail Zimmerman, Dean of First Year Students.
"Any student who violates the conduct code, regardless of whether they've matriculated or are a current student, is held to the same standards, said Zimmerman. "Students who violate the code receive a charge letter, and a hearing with a dean and/or the committee on standards, which will determine an appropriate outcome"
The student claimed he had received the beer from Psi U, at which point Safety and Security called at the fraternity to check that the fraternity was not serving minors, Daniel said. There were no freshmen and minimal alcohol in the house, but the fraternity will not know the disciplinary consequences of the incident until a Judicial Affairs hearing later in the term.
Many fraternities on campus welcome freshmen if a member of the house knows them, but Daniel said that Psi U does not allow freshmen in their basement, and keeps the front door to the house locked.
Don Wyper '05, president of Chi Heorot, said that his house practices a similar policy when it comes to freshman.
"If you are friends or on a team with a brother we have no problem with you hanging out," said Wyper. "That way, the brother sort of takes responsibility for his friends' actions."
" If freshmen don't know anyone in the house they don't have a sense of responsibility and are more likely to do something stupid," added Wyper.
The incident is a reminder to the Greek community that most freshmen are inexperienced to the fraternity and sorority scene.
"It makes us realize that freshmen are an issue," said Daniel. "It's a good eye-opening experience for the community."
