The College plans to release termly reports detailing closed Organizational Adjudication Committee investigations of potential hazing cases. While this measure had been previously discussed, today marks the first time that a report is issued.
A report on allegations of hazing at Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity will be released today, Johnson said. Yesuto Shaw '15 levelled allegations against the fraternity in a column published in The Dartmouth on Oct. 19.
In total, the College received and has started to investigate seven reports of potential hazing cases since the Fall term, according to dean for campus life Kate Burke. Three of the cases remain under investigation, and three were referred for other possible violations because there was insufficient evidence to necessitate a hazing charge, according to Burke. One case, involving Alpha Phi Alpha, was adjudicated by the OAC.
"We don't have lots of data to share at this point," Johnson said. "But what I can tell you anecdotally but the data is there to confirm this is that we had more students report hazing independently this year than ever before."
The administration typically learned of hazing incidences after something had publicly gone "awry," she said. Johnson said that most students, especially the members of the Class of 2016, have expressed increased awareness of the College's resources for handling cases of alcohol abuse, hazing and sexual assault. As time passes, the administration hopes that the climate of reporting hazing or sexual assault incidences will change to allow for more open discussion, Johnson said.
Student feedback is critical as the administration develops new rules to curb alcohol abuse, hazing and sexual assault. While there is often an initial "pushback" to administrative reforms and regulations, Johnson said that the student body is starting to accept these new initiatives.
"The administration has a responsibility to set the standards of care and enforce those standards and hold students accountable for their actions," Johnson said.
Administrators reviewed other universities' alcohol and sexual assault policies when updating the College's rules, Johnson said. Dartmouth's peer institutions have also been inspired by the College's existing measures, including the Dartmouth Bystander Intervention Program and the College's Good Samaritan policy, she said.
Issues of sexual assault and alcohol abuse are prevalent among most college campuses, Johnson said.
"Universally, these are tough nuts to crack," Johnson said. "There is nothing unique to Dartmouth culture that says to me that it's any harder or easier here."
The administration is looking beyond "simple" solutions for complex issues, she said. Data has shown that peer-to-peer contact is among the most effective ways of curbing excessive drinking, according to Johnson.
"Ideally, the majority of students would be willing to say openly and publicly that these behaviors are risky and wrong and potentially injurious, and we shouldn't be engaging in them," Johnson said. "Those voices are out there I remember talking about the silent majority' and [The Dartmouth] slammed me for it...but once we get to the point when more students start vocalizing that these behaviors don't represent what Dartmouth is, then we've hit the tipping point in shifting the culture."
Johnson said she is proud of individuals who have jeopardized their "social credibility" by reporting incidences of hazing. Greek organizations have also accepted greater responsibility by introducing education plans and being more vocal about the issue of hazing, she said.
Johnson said she expects that President-elect Philip Hanlon '77 will promote student leadership and encourage students to focus on the student body's overall wellbeing.
As a result of the new policies, Greek organizations have had to take a "hard and serious" look at their historical practices and behaviors, according to Greek Leadership Council moderator Duncan Hall '13.
While the administration has its own goals and objectives to meet, it is also interested in receiving student feedback, he said.
Coordinators of the Alcohol and Other Drug Education Program Brian Bowden and Caitlin Barthelmes declined to comment.
