In his March 29 op-ed ("Alcohol Policy: Seeking Answers"), Joseph Asch '79 misrepresents Yale's position on alcohol violations as well as the situation at Dartmouth. Our colleagues at Yale have confirmed to us that, like other colleges and universities, they follow federal and state laws. And despite the reservations we share with other educators about the wisdom of an age 21 drinking law, Dartmouth also complies with the legal requirements, as it must. It might be helpful here to outline some of our legal constraints, at both the federal and state levels, and to reiterate what Dartmouth's goals are for addressing alcohol use by undergraduates.
Despite Asch's statement to the contrary, Dartmouth does indeed have an obligation to uphold the law. The federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 (Title 20 United States Code, Section 1011(i)) requires institutions receiving federal financial assistance to establish policies against illegal drug and alcohol use for both students and employees. Specifically, regulations implementing the law (Title 34 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 86) require, among other things, that federal aid recipients such as Dartmouth establish standards of conduct that clearly prohibit the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees, and a clear statement that the institution will impose sanctions for violations.
The State of New Hampshire prohibits the sale or distribution of alcohol to persons under 21 or someone who is intoxicated; possession, when under 21, of any alcoholic beverage; operating a vehicle containing alcoholic beverages when under 21; possession by consumption; DUI and DWI; and underage house parties (parties where underage people are served).
The role of the Department of Safety and Security in all this is to protect student safety, to ensure the security of our community and to provide education, appropriate enforcement and service. Safety and Security services are available for students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. While that office certainly does document violations of policy by students, Safety and Security's educational and service role means that they also help students when they need it. The health, safety and well-being of Dartmouth students is always uppermost in our concerns. Our "Good Samaritan" policy allows students and student organizations to seek help for intoxicated students without fear of judicial sanctions for alcohol policy violations. In the Winter term of 2007 alone, 27 students received "Good Sams."
Since taking on the role of Acting Dean of the College, I have had extensive conversations with individual students and groups about the alcohol policy, and I have shared my goals for how we address alcohol issues: We need to reduce the short- and long-term potential for harm to individuals created by high-risk alcohol consumption. We also need to reduce the negative secondary effects of high-risk drinking on other members of the Dartmouth community. We try to promote individual and organizational learning, responsibility and accountability regarding choices and behaviors involving alcohol. We want to maintain constructive, open, educationally productive relationships with students who may disagree with Dartmouth's alcohol policies and how they are implemented while we also fulfill our obligations to comply with relevant laws and to exercise appropriate risk management.
