Hanover Police Chief Nicholas Giaccone announced in a Feb. 4 meeting of Greek organization leaders and advisors that Hanover Police would begin to conduct compliance checks in coming months.
In an attempt to address an alleged rise in alcohol abuse by underage students, the police department planned to implement "sting operations" by sending non-police operatives posing as underage individuals into the physical plants of Greek organizations during parties. The ability of these operatives to procure alcohol could serve as a basis for further legal action in which the organizations could be charged as corporations, which could result in fines ranging from $2,000 to $100,000.
Many members of the Dartmouth community vocally opposed the operations, suggesting that Hanover Police should work with Greek organizations to improve the safety of the College's social scene. Some argued that the policy would increase the danger to students, as underage individuals would attempt to hide alcohol consumption and as Greek organizations would host invitation-only events.
"This will drive drinking underground," former president of Phi Delta Alpha fraternity John Alekna '10 said in response to the announcement. "If we close down Greek Houses [because of inability to pay a fine], it will destroy our normal welcome atmospheres."
Palaeopitus Senior Society, the Co-Ed Council, the Greek Leadership Council, the Inter-Fraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council sent a joint letter to Dean of the College Sylvia Spears and Senior Vice President Steven Kadish, asking the College to "work with students to protest the police department's new tactics."
The day after Hanover Police Department's announcement, Greek leaders met to draft an e-mail that was later circulated to campus. The e-mail condemned Hanover Police's proposed use of undercover operatives to monitor the role of Greek organizations in underage drinking and encouraged students to continue to use the Good Samaritan policy.
"[We] have encouraged use of the Good Samaritan policy, increased education about alcohol use for incoming freshmen and promoted stronger relations with the administration and Safety and Security," the e-mail read. "We believe that our efforts are working and that Hanover Police's proposal will roll back a decade of progress."
Presidents of Greek organizations agreed to increase vigilance, especially with the onset of Winter Carnival weekend, The Dartmouth previously reported. Houses holding registered events required students to present Dartmouth ID cards upon entry, and many organizations provided students over 21 with wristbands.
On Feb. 10, Giaccone announced that Hanover Police would delay the implementation of the proposed compliance checks in light of students' responses.
In mid-February, College President Jim Yong Kim formed SPAHRC to investigate alcohol consumption and alcohol-related policies on campus.
The committee, chaired by Kim, Administrative Chair Molly Bode '09 and student co-chairs William Schpero '10 and Max Yoeli '12, was divided into subcommittees specializing in education and prevention, town policy, health care and social life. Members of these committees worked with College and town officials to assess how to best achieve alcohol harm reduction.
"I would hope that we end up with a system in place and a campus climate and peer engagement that represent the best practices for harm reduction on college campuses," Spears said after the committee's formation. "It would be wonderful for the outcome to be that Dartmouth students are safer and that there's much less risk-taking and alcohol consumption."
After deferring the planned use of compliance checks, Hanover Police adjusted its procedures for student arrests in response to alcohol-related medical calls, according to an e-mail sent by Spears to the Dartmouth community on April 15.
The police department announced its intention to continue accompanying emergency personnel responding to ambulance calls for alcohol consumption, but said they would no longer arrest underage students eligible for the Alcohol Diversions Program.
The change was implemented to reduce harm from alcohol overconsumption and to encourage students to seek help in dangerous situations, Spears said.
"This is a policy that prioritizes safety and that will promote safe drinking habits amongst the student body," Inter-Fraternity Council President Tyler Brace '11 said in response to the announcement. "I would hope this trend will continue and that the Hanover Police will continue to pursue policies that promote health decisions, as opposed to fear."
In its May 19 presentation, which was sparsely attended by students, SPAHRC released its findings and made suggestions for risk management, policy coordination, health care delivery and education.
After examining alcohol policies at colleges throughout the nation, SPAHRC recommended the creation of an alcohol coordinator position to supervise alcohol-related programs and initiatives, and to track alcohol consumption data, according to Schpero.
The committee also suggested changes to the Social Event Management Procedures, including a transition from can-based to keg-based alcohol distribution. The SPAHRC report also suggested that sober student monitors visit Greek houses during parties and report their findings to house advisors and student leaders.
Improvements to alcohol education policies would include information sessions about the Good Sam policy during First-Year Orientation and screenings to identify students with predispositions to alcohol problems, Schpero said.
In order to maximize efficiency, Safety and Security officers and Dartmouth Emergency Medical Services should breathalyze students before transporting them to Dick's House, according to the SPAHRC report. The committee also suggested that Dick's House should staff more emergency medical technicians on large party weekends to accommodate more students and to encourage use of the Good Sam policy.
The committee also supported the creation of a permanent town-College task force on alcohol consumption.
Currently, SPAHRC will be implementing its first round of changes throughout the Summer term, according to Student Body President Eric Tanner '11.
Those changes will primarily focus on the alcohol education that takes place for incoming freshman during orientation, Schpero said.
Schpero described the implementation of the changes as an "ad hoc effort" between himself, Tanner, Yoeli and Alcohol and Other Drugs Program coordinator Brian Bowden.
In the future, SPAHRC will be restructured to work with Student Assembly in order to implement further changes, although a specific timeline has not been determined beyond plans for education reform for freshmen orientation.
The recommendations made by SPARHC were tested in April, when The Tabard coed fraternity and fiver other Greek organizations were investigated by Hanover Police for serving alcohol to underage individuals. Police suspended the cases pending efforts by College administrators and Greek officials to address concerns about alcohol overconsumption at the College.
In May, Tabard was charged with serving alcohol to underage individuals following the arrest of a 20-year-old student for alcohol possession in addition to the April incident.
Tabard president Paloma Ellis '10 is scheduled to appear before the Lebanon District Court on June 28.
