Summer may be a full academic term for sophomores, but the rest of the campus is certainly taking things a little easier. There are fewer courses available, fewer places to eat and fewer open hours at the gym. We concede that, given the smaller student body, some service cuts may be necessary. The trouble is, however, that these cuts have been extended to Dick's House, and have effectively shut down the Good Samaritan policy for the summer months.
Since Dick's House is now closed at night, students who are Good Sammed will be sent straight to the hospital which of course means the police may follow along. We have all been at Dartmouth long enough to know that the police are not shy about pressing hefty charges on underage drinkers as well as any Greek organization that might be involved. With the stakes this high, what incentive is there for students to use the Good Sam policy? The unfortunate result is that students will no doubt neglect to seek help for their dangerously intoxicated friends rather than face trouble with the law.
Granted, with so few students legally able to drink, Dartmouth is technically a dry campus during the summer. In theory, no one should need to be Good Sammed and keeping Dick's House open at night would be an unnecessary expense. But administrators are not nave. They should understand that underage drinking will still happen, just like in other terms. Indeed, with many students notoriously inclined to engage in risky behavior during their sophomore Summer, the Good Sam policy is as vital as ever.
Interestingly, even as the College waters down the Good Sam policy this summer, College President Jim Yong Kim is touting his new Learning Collaborative on High-Risk Drinking, which aims to comprehensively address binge drinking and implement ways to reduce its harm. The Good Sam policy is not perfect. But by putting student health before legal threats, it can serve as an integral part of any initiative that seeks to confront the dangers of binge drinking. If Kim wants to realistically address alcohol use on college campuses, he needs to come to terms with the fact that risky behavior is always possible, no matter the season or average age of the student body. College officials should always fully fund policies like Good Sam that encourage students to take responsible action in the event of dangerous drinking.
Given the College's recent financial struggles, we understand that reducing Dick's House summer hours offers a potential way to save money. However, as a physician, President Kim should understand there is no reason, fiscal or otherwise, that can justify jeopardizing student heath. Fewer students on campus might mean that fewer providers can be on call, but this program should by no means be eliminated entirely. The College needs to reevaluate a policy puts the health, and perhaps lives, of the students here this summer at risk.
