Lewis Should Ease Up on Drinking

The letter released by Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 to the house masters for distribution to students does little to change the already centralized University policies about student alcohol consumption on campus--and is a conspicuous waste paper. We are not sure why Dean Lewis has chosen to speak on this issue now, when he already did so emphatically one year ago. However, we are fairly certain that most students have ignored his latest tirade against the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

The letter contains two main planks, neither of which have been altered substantially by any of the houses thus far. The first administration stance, although in line with state law, is blatantly anti-alcohol, prohibiting both consumption and possession of the substance for those under 21. Why not a hands-off policy which contends that students know what is best for themselves? Why does the administration feel the need to stifle a significant aspect of social life at the College? Can't Dean Lewis give undergraduates a break and let them enjoy a respected college pastime?

While the Massachusetts law passed in 1991 to comply with federal requirements does prohibit the consumption and possession of alcohol by minors, it does not require the College to persecute and report those students who are found to have violated the law. Therefore, Lewis has it within his power to adopt a laissez-faire policy. In fact, former Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57 publicly stated during his tenure that the minimum age for alcohol consumption should be 18, and his lax enforcement of the state laws logically followed from his just conviction.

The second major item in the letter regards the administration's sane immunity policy about treatment at the University Health Services (UHS). Fear of punishment would only serve to worsen the medical situations of students who drink excessively. We are glad that the administration holds students' health above their actions. But we are not so sure that this policy conforms to the reality of medical treatment at UHS. Although students' records are supposed to be kept confidential, sometimes they are not. And though friends who accompany a drunken student to UHS should be lauded (especially under this policy), they are sometimes reprimanded. Moreover, UHS' policy to notify senior tutors about overnight stays at its facilities somewhat undermines its commitment to immunity and anonymity. UHS should notify students who do stay overnight that they are not required to inform their senior tutors of the cause for their stay.

The College's alcohol policy is reminiscent of Prohibition. And we all know that that national hypocrisy was an absolute waste of federal energies which, moreover, caused secondary illicit evils like organized crime. Dean Lewis and the administration should loosen up and keep the alcohol consumption policy in line with the more enlightened alcohol treatment policy.