Archived Edition: October 28, 2003 | Back to Current	Jul 31, 2010

Alcohol abuse spiraling out of control
Editorial Board - WILLIAMS RECORD

Perhaps it is only fitting that in a week when North Adams Regional Hospital (NARH) received a $1 million donation from the College, alarm bells are ringing about the frequency with which students are ending up in the Health Center or NARH because they have had too much to drink.

While the College will not formally release statistics, the Health Center has noted a precipitous increase in alcohol-related incidents across all four classes. What has administrators frightened, though, is the first-year class; the number of dangerously intoxicated first-years seen by the Health Center or NARH has doubled from the same time last year. Neither the levels of intoxication observed nor the Health Center’s standards in terms of whom they send to the hospital have changed from last year. Thus, there is no easy way to write-off the increase as a change in Health Center evaluations. Nor can the increase in students in the Health Center be tied to a lack of all-campus parties; to date, there have been 33 parties, compared to 32 at this time last year.

Additionally, first-years have expressed an alarming sense of invincibility and even indifference towards the dangers of drinking too much when confronted with facts pointing to their alcohol abuse. For example, a first-year who almost asphyxiated on her own vomit appeared unfazed when Health Center staff later discussed the severity of her condition with her. With homecoming approaching, administrators say privately they fear a first-year will die of alcohol poisoning. A death on campus will likely signal the end of the Junior Advisor (JA) system and a radical tightening of the administration’s control over students’ lives.

This is not the first time an administrator has said there will be an alcohol-related death, but administrators’ responses this year clearly indicate the severity of the situation. Health Center staff, Security and members of the Dean’s Office have been brainstorming on the issue and the Board of Trustees, a group usually distanced from day-to-day oversight of student life, has expressed concern on the situation. However, it is impossible to definitively identify the cause of the increased visits, making it difficult to find solutions.

It is a given that students of all ages, if they want to, will find alcohol to drink. It is also true that many students will drink more than Security’s one drink per hour guideline. Regardless of whether or not this year is a statistical anomaly, the fact remains that students are drinking to the point when they pose a risk to themselves and the rest of the campus. And while someone is thankfully willing to care for them or take them to the Health Center, that positive ignores the fact that students are consuming incredibly dangerous amounts of alcohol to begin with.

There is no obvious solution to this problem, but those who will be most affected if a student dies – the student body at-large – must proactively respond to those students who are acting irresponsibly. Among the greater student body, first-years, JAs and upper-class students who host (usually unregistered) parties must all recognize the severity of the situation and take steps to help improve it.

The JA system is a valuable asset to our community, but how to be an effective JA is open to interpretation. That said, perhaps this year’s JAs do not recognize the extent they impact the lives of many of their first-years, or maybe there is a disconnect between JAs and their entries. JA’ing is as much about using one’s maturity and knowledge of campus life to steer incoming students away from potential pitfalls during the year as it is about becoming a friend to first-years. Every year there are groups of upper-classmen who host parties where first-years go to drink. These gatherings are not inherently bad – unless the quantity of alcohol consumed is excessive. JAs know the locations of these parties; they are not a secret. Suggesting alternative activities to first-years is not babysitting, it is part of being a JA and friend. Additionally, upper-classmen hosting the parties or providing alcohol – particularly hard alcohol – cannot expect JAs to adequately care for dangerously intoxicated frosh.

However, it would be a misrepresentation to characterize first-years as victims in this situation. Although they have only been here for two months, they are adequately warned by the College about the dangers of drinking and how to identify when someone has had too much to drink. Everyone makes mistakes and there is a sharp learning curve when one arrives at college. But for first-years to not express remorse, regret or a willingness to change behavior is as disturbing as the fact that certain upper-class students continue to throw parties which result in first-years being sent to the Health Center or hospital.

Some obvious short-term solutions include decreasing and regulating the amount of alcohol consumed, taking more collective responsibility for the welfare of the community and increasing JAs’ participation and interest in their first-years’ night and weekend activities. If the community can devise an effective answer to our current situation, we can avoid a tragedy this year and enable future classes to learn from our solution.