Letter to Editor: A Message To The Trinity Community From The Vice President Of Student Services

To the Editor, Over the last year I have talked about Trinity's "alcohol policy" in open forums, small meetings, and privately with hundreds of students. The discussions have helped both me and the students involved appreciate the complexity of the issues that Trinity and campuses all across the country are grappling with. Because of the continuing confusion and considerable debate still surrounding this issue, I have decided to write to all of you directly. Let me place Trinity's set of policies in context. Within the last few years, there has been an abrupt change in the nation's stance towards excessive and illegal drinking. Fueled by very public deaths on college campuses, news of riots following student parties, and surveys showing that the rate of abusive drinking among students leapt by one-third since 1993, the public has become increasingly angry and has demanded action. Ninety percent of the public want a ban on public drinking; over eighty percent would support an increase in taxes (imagine that!) to fund efforts to stop alcohol use among minors. The Senate signed a proclamation in 1998 calling upon the nation's colleges and universities to do something significant to stop excessive drinking and the violence that stems from it. Grand juries now commonly file charges against Deans and Presidents who "look the other way" on their campuses. On Trinity's campus, we also saw the consequences of alcohol. Those of you who have been here for a couple of years must remember how the campus appeared on Monday morning. Cups and glasses along the beautiful Long Walk and broken glass thrown against the walls of Life Science Center greeted work crews and students going to 8:30 classes, and remember what your halls looked like. Every weekend we used money that could have been spent on academic programs and financial aid to replace sinks and paper towel holders that had been ripped off walls. Students visited the Dean of Students Office and their professors crying because they couldn't sleep or study the night before an exam. I want to be clear. Most students at Trinity never damaged property, nor kept their hallmates up until all hours. But a small minority can wreak havoc in an environment dedicated to the serious pursuit of knowledge and attracting some of the best students in the country. What did we do? We banned hard alcohol at student-run social events. We asked the hosts of social events to take responsibility for promoting the safety and well-being of their guests and respect for property. We asked students to serve as peer monitors and leaders in residence halls and to foster an atmosphere of civility. We followed the example of most communities around the country and banned open, public drinking. In compliance with law, we established reasonable limits to the amount of alcohol that can be served at events, limits based upon what an adult, drinking socially, might consume during a certain period of time. Again consistent with law, we prohibited underage drinking. What has happened? Damage to property plummeted last year and continues to be rare this year. RAs and Mentors report that the halls are quieter, and the Buildings and Grounds staff see signs that students are beginning to keep halls and grounds cleaner. Have we fixed all problems? No. Based on national statistics, we might assume that about 30 percent of students who enroll at Trinity are already accomplished drinkers. Some students are unhappy about the rules, and we know that many use fake IDs and older students to get around the barriers. I am often told that students "preload" to "make sure they can get through an event without alcohol" or "postload" in private rooms or bathrooms because they didn't "get enough" at the event. Too many students (one is too many) are rushed to the hospital because they poison themselves with alcohol. And, even in the wake of a death on campus from violence, students continue to fight with each other. Students often assert that, when it comes to alcohol, they want to be treated like adults and make their own mistakes. We understand. Almost all of you are at least 18-years-old, and we can't and won't monitor what you do in private. Adults make their own choices, take responsibility for those choices, and are accountable to the law. We do not force adults to drink in their rooms or drive while intoxicated or down liquor too quickly; adults make these choices for themselves. In the adult world, drinking to excess or drinking in order to have fun are considered signs of a drinking problem. At Trinity, we treat it the same way. We sanction students who damage property, hurt people, or involve others in their misuse of alcohol, but we do not discipline those who choose to drink privately and only bring risk to themselves. Instead, we offer help. Deans, health professionals, counselors, coaches, RAs and professors stand ready to offer aid whenever asked by a student or a caring friend. We also offer a plea that is hard for young adults to absorb: Recognize that you are not invulnerable, and that drinking is not worth the risk. We are committed to maintaining a balance between encouraging independence and personal responsibility, on the one hand, and necessary oversight, on the other. We must balance our commitment to uphold law with recognition of privacy rights. And, above all, we must balance Trinity's commitment to the best possible educational environment for our excellent students with knowledge that education and personal development often occur in forums far removed from class. Trinity has not imposed standards for conduct and respect for law frivolously or out of a desire to keep students from having fun. In fact, we want you to have a great deal of fun. I take this opportunity to urge you to help. Tell us what you'd like to do in your free time. Take advantage of the administrative and financial resources we offer. Or run with your own ideas. We have no intention of turning Trinity into a "dry" campus. We respect the right of 21-year-olds to drink. We set up nights at the Bistro and parties elsewhere, and invite students of age to enjoy a beer, should they choose. Because of problems student groups are having obtaining liquor permits, we are filing for a "university license" for the Vernon Center so that students won't have to apply on their own. This should make planning for dances or other events much less chaotic and will reduce the burden on student planners. In the present legal climate and because we care about you, we can't stand by and allow underage students to drink or even watch as overage students drink to excess. Because Trinity is a college ‹ one of the finest in the nation ‹ we also cannot stand by and allow the few to affect the academic lives of the many. So please, as fellow adults, let's work together. Sincerely, Sharon Herzberger Vice President for Student Services and Professor of Psychology

Letter to Editor: A Message To The Trinity Community From The Vice President Of Student Services

To the Editor,

Over the last year I have talked about Trinity's "alcohol policy" in open forums, small meetings, and privately with hundreds of students. The discussions have helped both me and the students involved appreciate the complexity of the issues that Trinity and campuses all across the country are grappling with. Because of the continuing confusion and considerable debate still surrounding this issue, I have decided to write to all of you directly.

Let me place Trinity's set of policies in context. Within the last few years, there has been an abrupt change in the nation's stance towards excessive and illegal drinking. Fueled by very public deaths on college campuses, news of riots following student parties, and surveys showing that the rate of abusive drinking among students leapt by one-third since 1993, the public has become increasingly angry and has demanded action. Ninety percent of the public want a ban on public drinking; over eighty percent would support an increase in taxes (imagine that!) to fund efforts to stop alcohol use among minors. The Senate signed a proclamation in 1998 calling upon the nation's colleges and universities to do something significant to stop excessive drinking and the violence that stems from it. Grand juries now commonly file charges against Deans and Presidents who "look the other way" on their campuses.

On Trinity's campus, we also saw the consequences of alcohol. Those of you who have been here for a couple of years must remember how the campus appeared on Monday morning. Cups and glasses along the beautiful Long Walk and broken glass thrown against the walls of Life Science Center greeted work crews and students going to 8:30 classes, and remember what your halls looked like. Every weekend we used money that could have been spent on academic programs and financial aid to replace sinks and paper towel holders that had been ripped off walls. Students visited the Dean of Students Office and their professors crying because they couldn't sleep or study the night before an exam.

I want to be clear. Most students at Trinity never damaged property, nor kept their hallmates up until all hours. But a small minority can wreak havoc in an environment dedicated to the serious pursuit of knowledge and attracting some of the best students in the country.

What did we do? We banned hard alcohol at student-run social events. We asked the hosts of social events to take responsibility for promoting the safety and well-being of their guests and respect for property. We asked students to serve as peer monitors and leaders in residence halls and to foster an atmosphere of civility. We followed the example of most communities around the country and banned open, public drinking. In compliance with law, we established reasonable limits to the amount of alcohol that can be served at events, limits based upon what an adult, drinking socially, might consume during a certain period of time. Again consistent with law, we prohibited underage drinking.

What has happened? Damage to property plummeted last year and continues to be rare this year. RAs and Mentors report that the halls are quieter, and the Buildings and Grounds staff see signs that students are beginning to keep halls and grounds cleaner.

Have we fixed all problems? No. Based on national statistics, we might assume that about 30 percent of students who enroll at Trinity are already accomplished drinkers. Some students are unhappy about the rules, and we know that many use fake IDs and older students to get around the barriers. I am often told that students "preload" to "make sure they can get through an event without alcohol" or "postload" in private rooms or bathrooms because they didn't "get enough" at the event. Too many students (one is too many) are rushed to the hospital because they poison themselves with alcohol. And, even in the wake of a death on campus from violence, students continue to fight with each other.

Students often assert that, when it comes to alcohol, they want to be treated like adults and make their own mistakes. We understand. Almost all of you are at least 18-years-old, and we can't and won't monitor what you do in private.

Adults make their own choices, take responsibility for those choices, and are accountable to the law. We do not force adults to drink in their rooms or drive while intoxicated or down liquor too quickly; adults make these choices for themselves. In the adult world, drinking to excess or drinking in order to have fun are considered signs of a drinking problem. At Trinity, we treat it the same way. We sanction students who damage property, hurt people, or involve others in their misuse of alcohol, but we do not discipline those who choose to drink privately and only bring risk to themselves. Instead, we offer help. Deans, health professionals, counselors, coaches, RAs and professors stand ready to offer aid whenever asked by a student or a caring friend.

We also offer a plea that is hard for young adults to absorb: Recognize that you are not invulnerable, and that drinking is not worth the risk.

We are committed to maintaining a balance between encouraging independence and personal responsibility, on the one hand, and necessary oversight, on the other. We must balance our commitment to uphold law with recognition of privacy rights. And, above all, we must balance Trinity's commitment to the best possible educational environment for our excellent students with knowledge that education and personal development often occur in forums far removed from class.

Trinity has not imposed standards for conduct and respect for law frivolously or out of a desire to keep students from having fun. In fact, we want you to have a great deal of fun. I take this opportunity to urge you to help. Tell us what you'd like to do in your free time. Take advantage of the administrative and financial resources we offer. Or run with your own ideas.

We have no intention of turning Trinity into a "dry" campus. We respect the right of 21-year-olds to drink. We set up nights at the Bistro and parties elsewhere, and invite students of age to enjoy a beer, should they choose. Because of problems student groups are having obtaining liquor permits, we are filing for a "university license" for the Vernon Center so that students won't have to apply on their own. This should make planning for dances or other events much less chaotic and will reduce the burden on student planners.

In the present legal climate and because we care about you, we can't stand by and allow underage students to drink or even watch as overage students drink to excess. Because Trinity is a college ‹ one of the finest in the nation ‹ we also cannot stand by and allow the few to affect the academic lives of the many. So please, as fellow adults, let's work together.

Sincerely,

Sharon Herzberger
Vice President for Student Services
and Professor of Psychology