The College Committee on Alcohol and Other Drugs' response to steering committee recommendations for new guidelines on alcohol is nearly finalized and should be in Dean of College James Larimore's hands before the end of the term.
CCAOD Chair and Acting Dean of the Tucker Foundation Robert Binswanger stressed that the committee has moved with consensus in the direction of "education, not prohibition," in analyzing the ideas presented by the steering committee.
"There is a real need for a serious education program on alcohol and other drugs," Binswanger said. "We need smart education programs -- smart methods. Too many education programs are directed at proven abusers and then it's too late."
What the CCAOD may then suggest, Binswanger said, is a mandatory education program during Freshman Orientation. Currently the College offers an optional alcohol education course during Orientation and a mandatory alcohol education session for all Greek-affiliated sophomores during their first term of affiliation.
In addition to educational goals, the CCAOD is focusing on "creating a clear language for policies so that the may be easily implementable," Binswanger said.
With their emphasis on education first and foremost, the CCAOD is pushing for a campus of people freely choosing to be responsible drinkers. Binswanger feels the one thing that may help promote the balance of responsibility and independence that the College needs is a more supportive force of Safety and Security officers.
"One 'Officer Bobby' is not enough. We need more S&S officers who understand the balance between enforcement and respect." Binswanger said.
"There is a dual-role for S&S officers -- enforcer and 'Officer Friendly.' If they're going to be effective they will need the cooperation and respect of the students," he said.
Another realization that the CCAOD has come to is the inability of the College to enforce every rule in any alcohol policy, Binswanger said, with particular emphasis on 'drinking games.'
Additionally the CCAOD may recommend a transformation from a system of peer counseling and advising to an exclusive system of peer advising, Binswanger said.
Another serious issue that the CCAOD will address in more detail than the SLI report did, is the policy on 'other drugs' that often is lumped under the alcohol policy.
"Dartmouth has the full gamut of drug problems," Binswanger said. "The SLI downplayed this too much -- there are students here that do drugs and don't drink and then think they're not doing anything wrong."
The CCAOD report will be presented to Larimore and ultimately the president and the Trustees. There are also plans to make the contents of the report available to the student body.
