To the Editor:
In his recent op-ed, Joseph Asch '79 chose to omit important contextual information that I had provided to him earlier in the week ("Thirsty for a Reasonable Alcohol Policy," Feb. 16). I want to make sure that the readers of The Dartmouth have this information, which goes a long way to explaining the difference in numbers between Dartmouth and Yale.
All schools are required by the Jeanne Clery Act to report their crime statistics, which are defined by the federal government and monitored by the Department of Education. These numbers must include violations of state law. State laws differ, and until recently, Connecticut had no prohibition on underage possession of alcohol on private property or in a private place. New Hampshire, however, does have such a law as well as an additional law known as "possession by consumption." Possession by consumption is the most frequent alcohol violation we encounter at the College, and raises our numbers significantly. Yale did not need to report such violations because at the time the numbers were recorded, it was not subject to the same law in Connecticut.
Additionally, the statistics Asch cites include a significant number of non-student violators and students called in as "Good Sams" who are not necessarily subject to disciplinary procedures. Consequently, Asch's numbers for Dartmouth are greatly inflated. The statistics cited do not reflect disciplinary action, only violations of law.
Safety and Security is an important part of the "safety net" that is available 24 hours a day for our community members, which includes approximately 5,800 undergraduates and graduate students and 4,000 to 5,000 employees and visitors each day. Our philosophy is "health and safety first and foremost." The majority of our work includes medical and safety escorts, responding to medical emergencies and fire alarms and providing general service to the college community. Alcohol policy enforcement is a secondary part of our role and is always accompanied with education and a genuine concern for our students.
The department's Central Communication Center is always open, fielding over 90,000 calls each year from students, parents and other community members. On the same day that Asch's letter appeared, The Dartmouth Editorial Board said that my staff was among the "unsung heroes" of the recent snow day ("The Unsung Heroes of the Snow Day," Feb. 16). Lastly, in a recent conversation I explained to Asch that his belief that we turn over a large number of students to Hanover Police was incorrect. When a student needs medical attention because they have consumed too much alcohol, they are transported to Dick's House for attention. If their medical condition is such that they are incapacitated, unconscious or at greater risk, an ambulance is called for their safety. It would be dangerous and irresponsible to do otherwise. Our bottom line is always the safety of the student.
