In depth

Discussion Forum

After years of allowing underage drinking to go nearly unchecked in university-owned fraternity houses, the Board of Trustees has demanded that the administration enforce school policies on alcohol consumption.

In compliance with the board's request, the Interfraternity Council (IFC) instructed Greek officers to limit alcohol consumption in fraternity houses to 21-year-olds, and to use wristbands to identify those of legal drinking age. These measures were put in place days before the annual Christmas Weekend, during which most fraternities host dinners, bands, and cocktail parties at their houses. 

Many students worry these changes will push parties off campus, and they are not supportive.

"I think there's going to be a lot more problems with sexual assault, possibly some drunk driving problems...I think it was a shortsighted decision," said sophomore Ryan Gritter.

“They’re just trying to get rid of their liability, and they don’t really care about students,” added junior Lizzie Newland.

Executive Committee President Marie Trimble said she thinks the student body is overreacting to the administration's actions. Instead of rebelling against the policy, she advises students to party responsibly.

"Still go out and drink and have a good time, but there’s a difference between three or four beers and 12 beers, there’s a difference between going home on Traveller and going to the hospital," said Trimble.

Successes and Failures

The first days of the alcohol policy's enforcement have been branded a success by IFC President Thomas Pickering. “We were pleased with how the fraternity leadership acted and the effort they showed.”

Pickering admitted that the IFC encountered problems at some of the parties. He said IFC officers found an underage student drinking beer at one fraternity. They also reported seeing a brother at a different party getting beer from the bartender and handing it to underage guests.

According to IFC Secretary Roderick Dowling, penalties for violations Christmas Weekend will not be severe. “[The administrators] have told us that they don’t expect us to give out harsh punishments for fraternities for misconduct in this first couple of weekends. [They’ll] probably just get a little slap on the wrist, a warning, for now, and [we’ll] say ‘make a better effort next time.’”

To avoid IFC supervision, most fraternities held off-campus parties on either Friday or Saturday of Christmas Weekend. Some of these parties took place in houses located more than a ten-minute drive away from campus.

Three students were cited by police for driving under the influence during that weekend. According to Dean of Students Dawn Watkins, there was only one DUI case during last year’s Christmas Weekend. However, Watkins pointed out that during the last school year there were two other weekends where there were also three or more DUIs, before the enforcement of the policy.

Washington and Lee’s Alcohol Policy

The alcohol policy, officially titled University Initiatives on Substance Abuse, have been in effect since April, 2001.  They were first instituted after two students were killed in a car crash in October of 2000. The students' BAC at the time of the accident was more than twice Virginia's legal limit.

Since then, a lot has changed at Washington and Lee: drinking games are not allowed in Greek houses, alcohol is forbidden at tailgates, and a "three-strike" system has been instituted to prevent alcohol violations.

These measures have not been enough to prevent underage drinking at fraternity parties, however. The Board of Trustees seeks to change that through enforcement of the policies adopted three years ago.

Dean of Students Dawn Watkins said she hopes the enforcement will teach W&L students to exhibit more responsible drinking behavior.

"The idea that the University needs to be the watchdog doesn’t play into the concept of student self-governance in any way, shape or form," said Watkins.

She added the University is working to educate students about low-risk drinking. "[We're] working very closely with our student leaders to look at these issues both on and off campus."

Watkins said the enforcement of the policy has nothing to do with liability, as many students have suggested. She asserts the University wants to teach students to behave responsibly and avoid risky situations. She also said the school wants to protect Greek organizations from having their chapter revoked by their national leadership.