Enfield Police arrested 11 intoxicated underage members of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and sent three of them to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center late Monday night after a new members' event held at a roller rink in nearby Enfield, N.H.
Police arrived shortly before 11 p.m. after calling both Dartmouth Safety and Security as well as ambulances from nearby towns for backup. Upon arriving, officials placed at least one woman on a stretcher and two others were transported to DHMC immediately. One woman was placed in intensive care at DHMC while the other two were taken to Dick's House afterwards.
While at the rink, which had been rented out by Kappa, some members had passed out or shown other signs of being "highly intoxicated," according to Enfield Chief of Police Richard Crate Jr. Subsequently, other members of the sorority called 911.
Enfield Police arrested the other eight members for internal possession after administering breathalyzer tests to all of the underage women at the rink.
Crate noted that about 25 to 30 individuals were present when Enfield Police arrived and that the "majority" of them were over 21 years old.
The police chief's estimation falls short of the sorority's 37 new members, let alone the entire sisterhood that counts well over 100 individuals. Crate said he was not aware of any members who had left prior to the police arriving, however.
Kappa President Whitney Dickerson '07 initially refused to answer questions regarding the incident because she was "working on gathering the facts," according to a BlitzMail message she sent to The Dartmouth. When asked for comment again Tuesday, Dickerson said that she would only answer questions received through BlitzMail. She had not responded to inquiries from The Dartmouth at press time.
Police found alcohol containers at the roller skating rink, including beer cans and wine bottles, Crate said. He could not ascertain where the alcohol had been consumed, but said that "probably some of the alcohol had been consumed prior to them arriving."
"We found a large empty bottle of wine in the roller skating rink that the manager of the roller skating rink said didn't come from his establishment," Crate said.
The presence of Safety and Security at a location about 15 miles from campus was an unusual addition to the incident.
College Proctor Harry Kinne said that Safety and Security sent two officers to the scene to assist in transporting the eight women who were arrested back to Dick's House.
Kinne noted the atypical nature of Safety and Security's involvement, but did not seem overly concerned. He said that on infrequent occasions Safety and Security aids "periphery" towns such as Lyme, Lebanon or Norwich when Dartmouth students are involved with police.
"When a police agency calls us and says they need our assistance, we're certainly glad to help out," Kinne said.
Kinne also stated that the College would soon begin its own investigation into the incident, but refused to comment on any specifics.
Dean of Residential Life Martin Redman said he had spoken with Dickerson early Tuesday morning and that she said the event was originally intended to be alcohol-free.
Women who rushed the seven campus sororities were extended their formal bids at approximately 8 p.m. on Monday and houses began their respective bid acceptance nights at 9 p.m.
Crate emphasized that Enfield Police is only investigating the alcohol violations involved in the incident, but said that Hanover Police may be investigating hazing allegations.
"We're working with the Hanover Police Department because if there is hazing, [Hanover is] probably where it took place," he said.
Crate also said the Enfield Police were aware that it is presently "initiation time for fraternities and sororities."
Both Kinne and Hanover Police Chief Nicholas Giaccone refused to comment on any possible hazing that may have taken place leading up to the arrest of the 11 underage members.
Giaccone further refused to field any questions about the incident as it related to Hanover.
Various administrators who oversee the Greek system, including at least the Director of Coed, Fraternity and Sorority Administration Deb Carney, Redman and Acting Dean of the College Dan Nelson, met about the issue at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
Kappa's national organization did not respond to phone calls for comment.
Staff reporter Dan Duray contributed in reporting of this article.
