Senate Resolution Launches War Against Campus Binge Drinking

Besides existing laws aimed at ensuring that colleges accurately report the extent of alcohol problems on campus, the Senate recently passed a resolution aimed at binge drinking itself.

The resolution was part of a bill to expand the Higher Education Act, which President Clinton is expected to sign into law soon.

The measure, sponsored by Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-Del.), is named "The Collegiate Initiative To Reduce Binge Drinking Resolution" and calls for the formation of a task force of administrators, faculty, students and others to examine student life and to make recommendations to reduce alcohol and drug-related problems.

The measure also calls for a zero-tolerance policy for underage drinkers and asks colleges to reduce the opportunities for students, faculty, staff and alumni to drink on campus.

University spokesperson Alex Huppe said that the College does not interpret zero tolerance to mean the expulsion of students who are caught with a beer in their hands.

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 said in an e-mail message yesterday, "I don't know how our policies and enforcement of them would be ranked in terms of tolerance. I know that we have in the past occasionally (though not recently) been accused of being too hard on student drinking, and I don't recall anyone claiming that our policies are too lenient."

According to the legislation, colleges are urged to "vigorously enforce their code of disciplinary sanctions" for those who violate the alcohol policy and to provide counseling for students with alcohol and drug problems.

The resolution also calls for colleges to forbid alcohol companies from sponsoring on-campus events and to limit the advertisement of alcoholic beverages on campus.

Finally, the measure encourages schools to work with community officials to prevent the illegal sale of alcohol to minors.

In his legislation, Biden says that 44 percent of college students are binge drinkers and that nearly one in five are frequent binge drinkers.

"This is not what parents expect when they send their kids off to college," Biden wrote. "It is time for the culture on college campuses to change."

Students were doubtful about how much impact this resolution would have on campus.

Michael C. Occhuizzo '99 said, "This mandate may allow for Harvard to publicly step up its current policy, but I doubt it can do much more to curtail underage drinking, short of going to a dry campus."

Undergraduate Council President Beth A. Stewart '99 said, "I hope [this resolution] will protect students from binge drinking, while not infringing on students who drink safely and legally."

Lewis said Harvard is already ahead of the curve among college institutions in curbing binge drinking.

"Harvard has done a lot over the past couple of years...and we continue to review and converse about our policies with a variety of people and offices," Lewis wrote in his e-mail. "I do think that Harvard took this issue on a bit earlier than some other colleges have done and that awareness may be higher here than elsewhere."

Lewis said, "We also are fortunate not to have some of the problems other colleges face: we have no fraternities, and almost all of our students, including all our freshman, are residents in college housing."

Alcoholic beverage companies do not sponsor campus events, nor do they advertise on campus, said a college administrator.

According to Huppe, "The only place alcohol is available for purchase is at the Faculty Club."

Due to the tragic death of MIT first-year Scott Krueger at a MIT fraternity party last year, increased attention was paid to the issue of illegal alcohol use during first-year orientation week, said a first-year entryway proctor.

However, Occhuizzo said, "If underage students really want to drink (albeit illegally), it's of my opinion that very little can be done to prevent it."