Despite the Coed Fraternity Sorority Council's vote last Wednesday to cancel all CFSC sponsored Winter Carnival parties and events, the number of drinking related incidents was normal for a Carnival weekend, according to Hanover Police officers and officials at Dick's house.
Hanover Police and Dick's House officials said in terms of the number of alcohol-related incidents and the number of people taken to Dick's House the Carnival weekend was typical -- a word not likely to be used in reference to any other aspect of this year's Weekend Carnival.
According to Safety and Security, more students opted for private and dorm parties this weekend with the option of drinking at Greek houses closed for many. There were 42 complaints and 17 alcohol-related incidents reported during the Carnival weekend, according to Safety and Security.
"There seemed to be more parties in residence halls. Seven possession in alcohol were in residence halls [this weekend]," College Proctor Bob McEwan said.
Over the weekend, 10 students were referred to the Dean's office for possession of alcohol, four intoxicated students were returned to roommates and three others were sent to Dick's House for intoxication by Safety and Security.
Last year, there were eight alcohol-related incidents and 33 complaints. In 1997, there were 22 alcohol-related incidents.
"[We] can't pinpoint one single factor," McEwan said. "These numbers always fluctuate."
Meanwhile, the number of students being taken to Dick's House and the number of minors arrested for possession of alcohol by the Hanover police were similar to any other Carnival weekend.
"It was a typical Winter Carnival weekend for us," Captain Chris O'Connor of the Hanover police department said.
He said four minors were arrested and three others were placed under protective custody for possession of alcohol. He said he could not specify whether the minors were Dartmouth students or not.
"It [number of arrests] can range from five to 16 to 17 on a big weekend," O'Connor said.
"We haven't gone through a weekend without an incident with some aspect of intoxicated people. The potential they have with the house [fraternity] parties is that they can increase the possibility of incident taking place," O'Connor added.
According to Director of Health Services Dr. Jack Turco, there were four students taken to Dick's House, all of them between Friday night and Saturday morning.
"It was a typical weekend," Turco said. But he warned that the number of students taken to Dick's House is just "the tip of the iceberg" and it is impossible to see the effect of the cancellation of all Greek parties for the weekend.
"We understand that monitoring people who come to Dick's House is not a good indication of how many students are actually drinking," Turco said.
