College Faces Drinking Limits

Harvard students yesterday predicted social life at the University would be in the doldrums if the College follows through with an expected policy change that is likely to prohibit all underage drinking.

For years, Harvard students have been protected from the drinking age by the College which has espoused the theory that house masters and freshman advisors were acting in the role of students' parents. Only publicized, University-wide parties have been formally restricted in the past.

But stepping in line with the recent change in the minimum drinking age, Harvard is likely to ban underage drinking and issue special ID cards to 21-year-olds to enable them to drink at parties.

The changes would most likely restrict Masters' open houses and would ban the popular, free-flowing in-house and courtyard parties characteristic of Saturday evenings since time immemorial.

"We'll try to find every loophole possible and give people liquor," said a 21-year-old.

Creative Alternatives

But students said they would begin searching for more creative ways to enjoy leisure hours.

"It will provide more business for the drug dealers," noted one student.

"This will just encourage people to take years off in Europe," said another.

Students predicted that the new policy would spawn more private parties and other creative ways to circumvent the rule.

Freshman advisors are currently allowed to buy alcohol for their students, but under the new policy that would cease.

"It will have a bad effect on parties, but it won't stop people from stocking up in their refrigerators. People who want to drink will find new ways to drink," said Larry Wifdorchick '87.

"All through high school we had parties. I just don't see how they're going to enforce it," said Carmen B. Coley '89.

"After the change, people just won't drink in big bunches, and there's already no togetherness spirit. Now, we'll just have isolated room parties," said Tony Pruthi '86. "This policy will separate classes and destroy house unity."

Nevertheless, house committee chairmen contacted yesterday said they would be able to go on and find new ways to promote house unity.

"I think we can work with it," said Kirkland House Committee Chairman Angela Ferry '86.

Kirkland House held a party last weekend where students were required to show proof of age to drink and "the party worked just fine. All the sophomores came and had fun," Ferry said.

The Kirkland House party may have been a taste of things to come. Ferry said she thought many of the sophomores had private parties with alcohol before they came to the party.

Adams House Committee Chairman Milo B. Sprague '87 said many of the house activities would not be affected by the rule--including the winter waltz, raft race and campus wide dances.

But for other parties, "it's going to be a burden for committee members who will have to card. It's going to be unpleasant, and I don't think people are going to have as much fun," Sprague said.

Some serious issues remain to be addressed such as serving wine at faculty dinners and use of house committee funds for private parties, said Dunster House Committee co-chairman Jonathan E. Klaaren '86.

However, many students supported the change.

"It's the law you know, and a large institution should follow the rules," said Allie Drier '88. "It's hard for a college to sanction thousands of underage drinkers."

Another student said, "Alcohol is one of the worst drugs around. It is dangerous addictive and doesn't teach you anything.